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Learn about TBI - For Individuals and Families

Important First Steps: What Should I Do Next?

• Get in touch with local support groups.
  Contact TBI Info and Referral line 1-877-TBI-1766 for a list of support groups in your area. Support groups can be an invaluable resource for information on a wide variety of topics, including treatment facilities and specific programs that may be available in your area.
• Keep a daily journal of mental and physical changes.
  Keep a list of questions for the doctor or others on the treatment team. Keep track of treatments, medications and results.
• Establish a support system of family and friends.
  Organize family and friends to visit the individual who has been injured, support the family and help with tasks needed to prepare for the future.
• Contact the case manager at your hospital.
  Identify the case manager and discuss the individual's progress and potential needs after discharge. Get help in identifying supports and services that may be available.
• Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Medicaid immediately.
  SSI is a program of the Social Security Administration that provides monthly payments to people who are, among other qualifiers, disabled and have limited income and/or resources. Parents need not be eligible themselves in order for a disabled child to receive SSI. If eligible, the individual usually can get Medicaid health insurance, which is tied into the SSI benefits package. Contact your local Social Security office for more information.
• Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)/Medicare immediately.
  SSDI provides monthly payments for workers and eligible members of their family if an illness or injury is expected to keep workers off the job for a year or longer. Medicare is a health insurance program tied into SSDI. A new beneficiary must wait 24 months after SSDI benefits begin before receiving Medicare coverage, in addition to the five-month waiting period after the onset of the disability. Enrollment in the Medicare program is automatic for SSDI recipients, no application process is needed. Discuss this with your care manager or contact your local Social Security office for more information.
• Talk with your hospital case manager about services for which the patient may be eligible.
  The case manager will be able to provide you with appropriate services to help the recovery process.
• If a school-age child has been injured, contact the school immediately.
  If the individual is in school, arrange with the school's principal when the student can return to school or alternate services while absent from school. If the student is in college or technical school, contact the school's Disability Office.
• Protect the ability to make decisions.
  If there is concern about the person's ability to consent to treatment, get information from Disability Rights Washington (DRW) 1-800-562-2702 about alternatives to guardianship, substitute decision-making and guardianship. Often you can avoid the expense and loss of rights that occur with a guardianship by looking at less drastic steps.