Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

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October 31, 2018 by Angela

November is National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month

At Schurig Center, we know how important family caregivers are! Every day, we see the love, commitment, time, and support family caregivers provide their loved ones as they navigate life after brain injury.

It’s wonderful that an entire month is dedicated to honoring family caregivers and providing education to the community about how much caregivers offer those in need of help.

Did you know?

  • Family members provide over 75% of caregiving support in the United States.
  • 44 million Americans care for a family member, friend, or neighbor.

When a person experiences a brain injury, it can affect the entire family. Providing physical, emotional, and financial care is a daily reality for millions of American families and it poses a great strain on the caregiver, many of whom are struggling to balance work and family responsibilities. Caregivers are heroes that deserve honor and recognition for all they do.

Please join us this month in celebrating and thanking these heroes who do so much to keep our families and communities strong, each and every day.

Here’s just a few ways
to celebrate your family caregiver…

thank you graphic

Start by saying “thanks.”

A “thank you” can go a long way in showing your love and appreciation. It can be as simple as sharing a heartfelt “thank you” in person or in a card, poem, letter, or note.

Give them a day off.

Plan a date to give your caregiver a day to do whatever they want. If it’s challenging to manage your daily tasks without your caregiver, consider hiring temporary help as an alternative or ask a family member of friend to help out for the day.

Give a thoughtful gift.

Think about what your family caregiver would appreciate most. Flowers, a gift card, a book or even a favorite coffee drink are all wonderful gifts that show your appreciation for all of their hard work.

Spend some quality time together.

Quality time with your caregiver can be a great way to remember your shared bond beyond the daily routine of caregiving. Watch a favorite movie together, play a board game, look through old photo albums, or sit together in the park. Spend some time together doing something that brings you both joy.

Remind them to take some time for themselves.

Family caregivers are less likely than non-caregivers to practice preventive healthcare and self-care behavior. Give your family caregiver the nudge they need to take some time out of the day for themselves. Whether it’s 15 minutes or a couple of hours of taking a nap, reading a book, or exercising, a little bit of ‘me’ time will go a long way to help your caregiver recharge their battery.


Photo of hands holding

If you are a caregiver, please remember…
You are not alone. We are here to help!

Schurig Center offers services to support family members in adapting to the life changes that result from a brain injury, including resource referral assistance, consultation and a Family and Caregiver Support Group.

For more information, contact our Resource & Intake Specialist at:
(415) 461-6771 x100
resources@schurigcenter.org

Filed Under: For Family & Caregivers, For Survivors, Ways You Can Help Tagged With: caregivers, caregiving, thank you

October 30, 2018 by Angela

Occupational Therapy at Schurig Center – A Rehabilitation Tool Changing Lives

Occupational Therapy (OT) is an effective rehabilitation therapy for survivors of brain injury, concussion or stroke that is offered at Schurig Center in group classes and in individual sessions. We realize that many survivors and their families are unaware of what OT is and the benefits it offers. Let’s learn more about OT, who can benefit from it, and the services offered at Schurig Center.

Photo of Maggie SmidaMaggie Smida, OTR-L is Schurig Center’s Occupational Therapist. Maggie received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University and is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She came to us from UCSF Medical Center where she gained valuable experience in acute care setting. Maggie has created tailored OT protocols specific to brain injury rehabilitation for survivors who are no longer receiving insurance covered OT and who benefit from continued rehabilitation.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) is one of three main rehabilitation therapies: Physical, Speech, and Occupational. The therapy name can be misleading since the purpose is not to help the client get back to work (though some OT’s can do that!). OT’s purpose is to maximize independent living and facilitate a productive fulfilling lifestyle. It’s called “occupational” therapy because the word “occupation” refers to any task a person performs which “occupies” their time. These can be fun hobbies or necessary activities for daily living.

The scope of practice is quite broad! OT’s are trained to address basic skills, such as brushing teeth or getting dressed (i.e. after stroke, living with neurodegenerative disease, etc.) all the way to managing a checkbook and supporting socializing with others. However, most OT’s end up specializing in a specific practice area.

Maggie’s specialization here at Schurig Center is considered non-traditional OT. She focuses on training people living with brain injury to use new “lifestyle systems” that will help them live fuller, more satisfying lives. These systems are devised to support management of daily routine and schedule, help organize personal business and household management tasks, sort out priorities, and facilitate participation in meaningful activities. Typically, these are areas not addressed during traditional rehabilitation stays.

Who could benefit from Occupational Therapy?

A joke in OT training school is that “everyone can benefit from a little OT.” However, it is mostly directed toward anyone who is having difficulty participating in activities they need or want to do because of injury, disease, or disability. An OT’s focus is always to support greater independence. Sometimes the way OT facilitates the accomplishment of a client’s goal for independence is through rehabilitative steps. Other times, it is by teaching adaptive strategies, work arounds, or a different way to complete an activity.

What do you work on in an Occupational Therapy session?

That very much depends on a client’s goal. Typically, OT sessions start with the OT learning about what activities a client wants to get better at doing. Then they determine his or her barriers to participating in or completing the activity. Finally, a plan is created that includes education and training for the client. Each session we work towards the goal.

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What is CogSmart?

CogSmart is a 10-week compensatory cognitive training class for people with post concussive symptoms and/or mild TBI. The curriculum was developed by a team in neuro-rehabilitation at the San Diego VA. The course teaches lifestyle management, trains students in coping strategies, and introduces external aids and mental strategies all designed to support cognition function. Here at Schurig Center, Maggie adapted the curriculum to benefit the specific needs of our clients living with symptoms of a concussion.

As the facilitator, what is Maggie’s favorite thing about CogSMART?

Maggie shared that she really enjoys teaching in a small group setting, and she loves the practicality of the course content. Students regularly share what strategies have worked or not worked for them, their own ideas, and complete in class exercises in pairs. It is great to see how the support of those who understand each other can make a difference in the human condition. The peer support seems to have such a positive impact on motivation and facing the challenge of a brain injury with resilience.

Do you think you would benefit from Occupational Therapy?

Schurig Center offers one-on-one Occupational Therapy sessions as well as CogSMART 1 and CogSMART 2 classes based on Dr. Elizabeth Twamley’s protocol from UC San Diego.

For more information and to enroll, contact Schurig Center’s Resource Specialist at resources@schurigcenter.org or (415) 461-6771 ext 100.

Filed Under: Classes, Concussion, For Survivors, Rebuilding Life Skills, Stroke Tagged With: concussion, Marin, occupational therapy, San Francisco Bay Area, Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery, Sonoma, stroke, tbi, traumatic brain injury

October 22, 2018 by Angela

Annual Holiday Art Show & Celebration

Healing for the Holidays Graphic

Please join us for original art, unique gifts, live harp music, refreshments, and lots of holiday cheer!

Saturday, December 1, 2018
Noon to 3:00 pm
Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
1132 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur
(map)

Art and handmade gifts created by Schurig Center artists and volunteers will be available for purchase. Participate in a community art project and enjoy some creative, healing fun!

Social, open house format.
Free admission. No RSVP required.

Parking: If Schurig Center’s parking lot is full, additional parking can be found on neighboring surface streets, the adjacent Child Development Center parking lot, or College of Marin’s Lot 13 located here:

  • Turn right out of the Schurig Center driveway on to Magnolia Avenue, which will turn into College Avenue.
  • At Woodland Road there is a four-way stop sign. Turn Right into the College of Marin Parking log.
  • Follow the driveway back to Lot 13, the free dirt parking area.
  • At the far end of the parking lot there is a path that goes over a bridge, which will connect you to Schurig Center.

Questions? Please contact the Schurig Center office at:
(415) 461-6771 x102, info@schurigcenter.org

Filed Under: Art & Music, Events, For Family & Caregivers, For Survivors, Ways You Can Help Tagged With: gifts, holiday art show, Marin, Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

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© 2023; Marin Brain Injury Network
dba Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
1132 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939
415.461.6771 | info@schurigcenter.org

A 501(c)3 organization - Tax ID # 68-0105213