June 11, 2018 by Angela

Let’s Talk About Aphasia

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month

According to the National Aphasia Association, aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing.

Aphasia affects about two million Americans. The most common cause of aphasia is stroke. About 25-40% of stroke survivors acquire aphasia. However, any type of head injury or other neurological causes can cause aphasia.

There are many types of aphasia. Some people have difficulty speaking while others may struggle to follow a conversation. In some people, aphasia is fairly mild and you might not notice it right away. In other cases, it can be very severe, affecting speaking, writing, reading, and listening. While specific symptoms can vary greatly, what all people with aphasia have in common are difficulties in communicating.

Communicating with People Affected by Aphasia

Below are a few helpful tips on how to communicate with a person who has aphasia. To download a free copy of the “Communicating Through the Barriers” poster below, visit the National Aphasia Associations website here.

Improve Your Communications Skills at Schurig Center

If you or a loved one is experiencing aphasia after a stroke or other neurological impairment, there is a place to go to improve your communication skills! We are pleased to offer a 10-week Aphasia Communication Group. Taught by a license speech therapist, this class provides the opportunity to practice and develop communication and cognitive skills in a supportive environment. Topics covered include: engaging in conversation, body language, communication strategies, listening skills, connections with friends, family, and your community. To get more info about this group, please visit our classes page here.

May 9, 2018 by Angela

Ingredients for Increased Independence and Fun

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
…and a dash of YOU!

Guy Fieri, local chef and restaurateur, believes “Food is about the people.”
Here at Schurig Center, we couldn’t agree more!

Group Cooking is a popular class offered monthly at Schurig Center. The class brings together staff, volunteers, and clients for a morning of good food, good fun, and great people. Many survivors are working towards the goal of living more independently after their brain injury. Relearning and improving the skills needed for daily living, such as cooking, are essential to achieving this goal.

Chefs in this class have the chance to practice basic adaptive kitchen and food preparation, planning, focus and concentration, following multi-stepped tasks, fine motor skills, and working as a team. It’s a safe place to relearn how to mix, chop, measure, pour, and bake. A place where spills or adding too much flour aren’t “mistakes” they are just part of the learning process.

Every chef’s improvement in ability, no matter how small, is celebrated as a group. Every completed recipe is so much more than just a tasty meal to these chefs. It’s one more step in their journey to recovery and re-engaging in life as they are now.

The chefs recently tackled a recipe for Scarborough Fair Quiche. The final product turned out delicious and even received rave reviews from the toughest food critics of all…their families! Give the recipe (below) a try for your next Sunday brunch.

Michelle, who survived a car accident and lives with the effects of traumatic brain injury, commented in cooking class this week: “This is so great, I love this! I can’t wait to take it home and share it with my family.”

You Make This Healing Possible

Individual donors make life-changing services, like Group Cooking, possible. In fact, 85% of Schurig Center’s revenue comes from foundations and donors. So, without YOU, this class truly wouldn’t exist. Only you can help survivors in Marin and the Bay Area rebuild their lives after a brain injury.

Join them on their journey…Donate online today!

Scarborough Fair Quiche

Ingredients
3 large eggs lightly beaten
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
½ cup (2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup (2 oz) shredded jack cheese
½ cup (2 oz) shredded parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon dried sage
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon dried rosemary
9-inch pie crust

(When substituting fresh herbs, always triple the amount of dried herbs called for.)

Adjust oven rack to the middle position. Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, salt and fresh black pepper. Sprinkle ½ of the cheese on the bottom of the pie crust. Sprinkle the herbs over the cheese, and then top with the remaining cheese.

Gently pour in egg mixture. Place quiche on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the quiche for even browning. Continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the mixture is set and lightly browned. Test by inserting a knife in the center. When the custard has set the knife will come out clean. Set the quiche on a wire rack to cool before cutting.

April 20, 2018 by Angela

ConcussionSmart Marin Helps Address Inconsistent Response to Student Concussions in Marin

[Download press release here]

ConcussionSmart Marin is a community coalition committed to the health of Marin’s youth. Recent reporting by the Marin Grand Jury and the Marin IJ’s editorial voiced concern about Marin’s student concussion response. The coalition ConcussionSmart Marin (‘CSM’) was formed in response to the Grand Jury’s report in 2016 and has been working to address the recommendations of the grand jury’s report since that time. CSM has developed a program for middle school and high school students based on best-practice in other states and from existing models found in California. The program began roll-out to the schools in March during Brain Injury Awareness Month. The goals of CSM are to: 1) Establish a standard level of care in the assessment and treatment of concussion/mild traumatic brain injury; 2) To help in the prevention and awareness of student concussion; and, 3) Ensure schools and student athletic organizations are in compliance with current law.
[Read more…]