Resources

Caregiver Resources

Supportive Living Virtual Platform for Caregivers

Neuro-Wellness Network

The following web sites provide information on public and private programs servicing individuals living with brain injury in the greater Boston area, and beyond. We hope by visiting these sites individuals can find a path to important information for those affected by brain injury.

Greater Boston Area

Community Services

Advocates Brain Injury Services

Residential, community and day services to help each person achieve the greatest level of independence at each stage of recovery.

Community Rehab Care

Community-based outpatient rehabilitation services including therapy, community case coordination and community services.

Neuro-Rehab Management

Case management and life skills coaching to individuals living with a brain injury.

Supportive Living, Inc.

Provides and coordinates specialized brain injury residential programs, long-term wellness programs and education.

Public Programs

Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts | BIA-MA

Support, prevention, education and advocacy.

Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP)

Community-based services including: case management, social/recreational programs, skills training via regionally-based head injury centers, respite, residential services/programs, and family support services.

Mass Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) Program Explanation

Video explanation of MRC waiver program.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) Resources

Beyond Bridges: Traumatic Brain Injuries and Behavioral Health resources

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Moving Forward Plan (MFP) Waivers

Assistance for MassHealth members to move from a nursing facility or long-stay hospital back to their community.

Home and Community Based Waivers

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers are programs for MassHealth members who otherwise need facility-based care.

Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Promotes early detection of brain aneurysms by providing knowledge and raising awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors, and works with medical communities to provide support networks for patients and families, as well as to further research that will improve patient outcomes and save lives.

The SRH Stroke Club

You are invited to attend our monthly meetings. The purpose of this support group is to provide socialization and education for stroke survivors.

Rehabilitation Hospitals

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England

Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

Rehabilitative care for adults and children.

Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network

Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.

Associations

American Brain Foundation

Additional Resources

Boston University Aphasia Resource Center

Clinical treatment, learning and support center.

MIT Braintrust

Student run support organization for brain-injury survivors.

Brain Injury Association of America | BIAA

Support, prevention, education and advocacy.

Brain & Life

American Academy of Neurology magazine.

Brainline

Education and Resources for TBI.

Brain Injury Basics (from BIAA)

Traumatic Brain Injury Resource for Survivors and Caregivers | Northeastern University

New Hampshire Brain Injury programs

Robin Hill Farm

Community-based cognitive rehabilitation in a residential setting.

Krempels Center

Nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with brain injury.

Resource sites and recent information on brain function, injury and the link to physical fitness

Practical Neurology: April 2023 article: Traumatic Brain Injury: Advances in Treatment and Care
CDC Heads Up Information and resources on brain injury
Brain&Life Magazine American Academy of Neurology Magazine
The Healing Power of Gardens Oliver Sacks: The New York Times
New insights into how sleep helps the brain to reorganize itself, University of Surrey. ScienceDaily, 2 October 2017.
One in 5 teens report having had a concussion in their lifetime, University of Michigan. ScienceDaily, 26 September 2017
How Counseling Can Help After a Concussion, Counseling@Northwestern, the online Master of Arts in Counseling program from The Family Institute at Northwestern University.
The Best Exercise for Aging Muscles, The New York Times, March, 2017.
Home Modification
The Parkinson’s Foundation
Medicare Enrollment Guide: How and When to Enroll in Medicare
Home Remodeling for People with Disabilities: What You Need to Know
The Consumer’s Guide to Stair Lifts for the Elderly and Disabled
State Grants for Wheelchair Accessible Vans
Veteran’s Guide to Funding Home Modifications

COVID-19 Resources

Information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Neurologic Disorders from Brain&Life Magazine

Exercise and Brain Injury

Why Exercise is Important in the Rehabilitation of Brain Injury Patients

Shows why exercise is an essential part of neurological rehabilitation. It will help patients gain strength and movement while improving cognitive functioning, as well as improving mood while increasing self-esteem.

Specific benefits include improved neuroplasticity, accelerated healing, developing new skills and improved mental health.

Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Exercises: Full-Body & Cognitive TBI Exercises to Try at Home

Explains and demonstrates at-home physical exercises for legs, core, arms and balance as well as cognitive exercises to improve cognitive function.

Research

Exercise to improve physical fitness and function in adults with chronic moderate to severe acquired brain injury.

This study aimed to see how exercise affected the function and fitness of individuals with ABI. The exercise programs used in this study were 6-week programs in which participants exercised 3x/week, each time for 60-90 minutes. Endurance, activity levels, and gait speed were all assessed at the beginning, end, and 6 weeks after the end of the program. It was found that the exercise programs aided in endurance, gait, and walking ability. After just 6 weeks, the study showed significant benefits in walking speed and gait in individuals with ABI. Despite these findings, there are still barriers to participation such as motivation, transportation, and cost which require further investigation and intervention to improve. This study can be utilized to implement similar beneficial programs and continue to find ways to overcome barriers.

Supports and Barriers to Exercise for Adults Living with Brain Injury in a Supportive Community Setting: An Exploratory Study

This study used interview methods to investigate the perceptions of physical fitness programs at SLI from participants, family members, and staff. Individuals with moderate-to-severe ABI showed increased endurance, mobility, and walking speed as result of the fitness program, and exercise also has been shown to improve brain function. The interviews concluded that a great majority of participants found exercise programs stimulating and that they enjoyed the program and trainers, as well as felt better being active. There were physical impacts, psycho-social impacts, and emotional impacts all providing numerous benefits for participants. Findings of this study can be used to help with formatting of the program, training of staff/interns, and to identify strengths and weaknesses of the program itself. Using the findings of this study and feedback from those interviewed, barriers to the exercise program can be reevaluated and can look to make positive changes in the future to continue to develop the program. This includes continuing to have strategic and refined program goals, expanding the number of people served, finding public funding, and promoting fitness for this population.

Healthy body, healthy mind: A mixed methods study of outcomes, barriers and supports for exercise by people who have chronic moderate-to-severe brain injury.

This study investigated effects of planned, systematic physical activity while cultivating social and emotional well-being of people with chronic moderate-to-severe brain injury. Programs impacted included physical, cognitive and social/emotional aspects. Social aspects (group format, trainers) were highly motivating and supported by residents, family, and staff. Investments in transportation and recruiting and training interns to assist participants are critical to program sustainability and expansion.

Clinical Evidence of Exercise Benefits for Stroke

Even though stroke is the third, not the first, most common cause of disability-adjusted life years in developed countries, it is one of the most expensive to treat. Part of the expense is due to secondary problems in the post-stroke period including: cognition, memory, attention span, pain, sensation loss, psychological issues, and problems with mobility and balance. Research has identified that exercise has both positive physical and psychosocial effects for post-stroke patients. Therefore, this scientific statement provides an overview on exercise rehabilitation
for post-stroke patients.

Pilot study of intensive exercise on endurance, advanced mobility and gait speed in adults with chronic severe acquired brain injury.

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity exercise on endurance, mobility and gait speed of adults with chronic moderate-to-severe acquired brain injury (ABI). Post-intervention improvements were achieved on average on all three measures, greater than minimal detectable change (MDC) for this population. Three participants transitioned from low-to-high ambulatory status and maintained the change 6 weeks later.