May 1, 2020 by Angela

Schurig Center Welcomes New Board Member Lawrence Strick

Schurig Center is pleased to announce that Lawrence Strick has joined its Board of Directors.

Mr. Strick is a principle at Strick Schnasse Lawyers, representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, and brings with him previous non-profit Board experience with Marin Interfaith Council, Community Media Center of Marin, and the Marin County Bar Association. Mr. Strick is excited to apply his talents as an ambassador for Schurig Center to support the organization’s fundraising efforts as well as acting as an advocate for brain injury survivors and their families.

“As a trial attorney, Larry Strick has represented people who have also been clients of Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery. His understanding of the challenges brain injury survivors and their families face, his role as former Marin County Bar Association President, and his non-profit experience make him a most welcome and knowledgeable addition to the Schurig Center Board of Directors,” says Kim Strub, Schurig Center Board President.

March 11, 2020 by Angela

A Message from Schurig’s Board Chair

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery, I want to remind you that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. For 35 years, Schurig Center continues to be here ready to help people living with the effects of a brain injury meet their challenges and set new goals and dreams for their future.

This wonderful organization is a model for other communities, but it currently only exists here in the Bay Area. This month is a good occasion to let them know you are glad they are here for you.

Why your support matters…

If you or a family member have suffered a traumatic brain injury, stroke, aneurysm, or other brain injury, you may not have time to think about what month it is. A brain injury usually happens quickly, due to an accident or medical emergency. There is no time to prepare mentally or physically for the resulting impairment or loss of function.

Every brain is different and likewise every brain injury. Your injury might be deemed a “mild brain injury” or a concussion, but it still may have devastating consequences. You may not be able to walk, talk or manage your emotions. Your memory may be impaired or you may have trouble managing your emotions. You may not be able to work. It is often an invisible injury, so you may look fine, but inside, you do not feel fine.

Losing the ability to work or the ability to speak clearly may mean your friends and colleagues drift away. You could be left without a sense of purpose, a sense of self, and you may be lonely. Insurance often only covers the immediate incident and some therapy, not the potential years of rehab and recovery ahead of you. You are likely dealing with medical bills, questions about your recovery and figuring out who you now are. Your loved ones—spouse, children, parents—may be facing their own crisis, unable to cope with the fear, anxiety and cost of this suddenly-altered person you have become.

Our medical system is great at treating the injury or illness that caused your brain trauma, but not so great at handling the long-term recovery process.

We are fortunate to have a local resource where people can turn following a brain injury, and it’s funded by your generosity.

Schurig Center is a place where survivors and their families and caregivers can learn how to understand their new challenges, connect with people who know what they are experiencing and access ongoing services and education to help make life better. It fills a big gap in our healthcare system that otherwise would leave people on their own to research and find therapies for their recovery.

Now celebrating its 35th year, Schurig Center offers 15 different services to people from all over the Bay Area. Schurig Center serves those in the Bay Area whose lives have been affected by brain injury, whether from an accident, stroke, concussion, or illness. The center offers services, including therapeutic and rehabilitative classes, support groups, individual consultations, and resource referral assistance. Scholarships are available for those who live on a low income.

Our active lifestyle comes with risk. Cyclists, skiers, skate-boarders and other athletes now understand the importance of wearing helmets. But while helmets may protect against some injuries, they do not prevent concussions. In recent years, Schurig Center has added innovative concussion recovery classes for adults to its array of services.

As a member of ConcussionSmart Marin, Schurig Center has helped to promote county-wide protocols for tracking, reporting and treating concussions among Marin County’s student athletes. The program (ConcussionSmartMarin.org) helps physicians and schools comply with legislation that specifies “return to play” requirements.

Please join me in helping to ensure this valuable community resource continues to be available. I can assure you that your giving will go far to improve lives and abilities.

Here are some ways you can help:

Donate. You’ll help people in your community who appreciate it greatly. Donate online here.
Fundraise. Start a fundraiser and make a donation that way.
Volunteer. If you have time to give, contact us.
Support BAM Gala. Schurig Center’s annual BAM Gala helps raise scholarship funds that provide access to care for 70% of our clients who live on a low income. Sponsor, attend, buy raffle tickets, or donate an item for the event’s silent auction. Get more info here.
Invite a speaker. We provide speakers for your community group, workplace, or organization to learn more about brain injury.
Tell your story. If you are a survivor, let people know that everybody has a brain and a brain injury can happen to anyone.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Schurig Center and for caring about its mission.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Strub
President, Board of Directors
Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
Larkspur, CA | (415) 461-6771

December 6, 2018 by Angela

Gift Ideas for Brain Injury Survivors

Here’s are a few gift ideas that might help improve quality of life for your friend or loved one who is living with a brain injury, concussion, or stroke.

Voice memo recorder – A helpful, auditory version of a self-stick note! This easy-to-use, hand-held gadget can be used to record messages to oneself throughout the day. Recorders are great for people who are unable to write due to aphasia or motor problems. They’re also helpful in capturing “on-the-fly” thoughts or to-do items that can be listened to later and transferred to a calendar, planner or to-do list.

Journal or planner – Journals and planners are wonderful gifts to help keep a person organized and on-track with their “to-do” lists. For many survivors, they are an essential tool in managing day-to-day activities, like paying bills and attending appointments. Journals are also meaningful gifts that can help a person express his/her thoughts and emotions as they process the changes in their life after a brain injury.

Subscription to an app – There are many apps available that can help enrich a person’s life after a brain injury. Calm is an app for meditation, restful sleep, mindful movement, and music for focus, relaxation, and sleep. Audible is a great app for an avid reader that may be finding that reading is more difficult after a brain injury.

Scanmarker – A Scanmarker is hand-held digital highlighter and scanner pen that scans words on a paper and wirelessly uploads them to your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Wherever you use your keyboard to type – Scanmarker instantly types it for you. A great gift for a person who is unable to write legibly or type due to aphasia or motor problems.

Post-it notes – A bulk supply of self-stick notes in various sizes and colors (lighter colors are best) are a great stocking stuffer to help a survivor stay organized. Strategically placed around the house, the car, or in a planner, self-stick notes are useful “reminder” tools.

Automatic shut-off appliances – Auto shut-off appliances, like irons or coffee brewers, can truly be a lifesaver for a survivor whose memory may not be as good as it once was.

Subscription to a meal service – Grocery shopping and preparing healthy food can be challenging after a brain injury because a person may not be able to go to the grocery store on their own. These meal services are extra helpful because food arrives portioned into the correct measurements with recipe options. Not having to worry about grocery shopping or measuring foods can really take off a lot of stress off eating healthy.

Prepaid bus pass or Uber/Lyft gift card – Many survivors aren’t able to drive and must rely on public transportation or friends and family to get around town. The gift of transportation is a wonderful way to promote a feeling of independence.

Gym or pool membership – Keeping active and getting ample physical exercise is good for everyone’s health, including brain injury survivors. But, a survivor may not be able to work after their injury and are unable to afford a gym or pool membership. Consider even paying for a trainer to work with the person one-on-one. An exercise, Qi Gong, or yoga DVD is also a great gift.

Noise cancelling headphones – A person can often be triggered by noises after a brain injury. Noise cancelling headphones can help provide relaxation by drowning out loud, triggering noises or promote sleep for people who are very sensitive to noise while sleeping.

Extra-large key chain – A great way to help someone keep track of keys. Some key chains even come with a beeper-finder feature.

Pillow or weighted blanket – Headaches and difficulty sleeping are common side effects that can be experienced after a brain injury. Upgrading to a quality pillow can help reduce headaches. Buy a quality pillow or give a store gift card so the recipient can pick out a pillow of his/her preference. A weighted blanket is pretty much what it sounds like – a heavy blanket. When placed on the body, the weight feels comforting without being restrictive. It is believed to offer many benefits, including improved sleep and anxiety reduction. The weight of the blanket should be specific to the person using it. The general formula for picking a weight is 10% of the user’s body weight plus a pound or two.

Adaptive eating and kitchen utensils – It can sometimes be hard to use traditional utensils to eat or prepare food after a brain injury. There are many different types of adaptive eating and kitchen utensils to help aid in the process, like adaptive silverware, a rocking knife, or snug straw.

Essential oil diffuser – Essential oils are natural aromatic plant compounds that are believed to offer a variety of benefits. Peppermint can help with headaches. Lavender is known for calming and relaxing properties. Frankincense can offer wonderful mood support; help improve focus and concentration, and may reduce irritability and restlessness.

Eye mask or sun blocking curtains – A brain injury survivor may experience periods of insomnia. An eye mask or sun blocking curtains can help a person sleep well during the day.

Jigsaw puzzle – Jigsaw puzzles can be a great therapeutic tool to help rebuild cognitive abilities. Start with a 25-piece puzzle and graduate to larger puzzles as a person’s abilities improve.

Hands-free hair blow dryer holder – After a brain injury, many people don’t have the same coordination in their hands and arms that they once had. A wall-mounted, hands-free blow dryer holder can help make creating the perfect “hair-do” much easier.

Shoe lace anchors – Some survivors may find it challenging to tie shoe laces. Lace anchors are a great stocking stuffer that will help pull laces tight without having to tie.

Watch – After a brain injury, people often find that they lose track of time because their “internal clock” may be off. An easy-to-read watch, showing the time, day and date can be super helpful. Many watches even come with alarm settings and displays to program in phone numbers and appointments. An alarm feature can help survivors learn to take their medications independently or serve as a reminder to cue a person to their next task or appointment.

Give a gift from the heart to help make everyday living easier – Daily living with the effects of a brain injury can be challenging. There are many meaningful and personal gifts you can offer that will help improve a person’s quality of life. Offer to help organize bills or help run errands. Pay a bill. Living with a brain injury can be expensive, especially if a person is unable to work after his/her injury. Offering to pay a bill is a great way to help ease financial burdens. Hire a cleaning service. Prepare and share a home cooked meal. Not sure how you can help? Just ask.