Where does a person turn???.?
Topic: Opinions & Commentaries
An example of how families are left to their own resources…………

 Over recent months I had been very troubled by one particular TBI veteran, one who had been slipping further and further away from becoming healthy, both physically and emotionally. While trying to help this family it came to my attention how few facilities in this Country can handle the compounding effects of brain injury, including behavioral issues and/or combat related PTSD. Although the VA runs inpatient facilities for PTSD, I’m not too sure they can even handle the Veterans who have a brain injury or complex medical issues, when added to the PTSD. BTW: they currently have 3-6 month waiting lists for the PTSD inpatient programs.

 During the process of a few weeks we had numerous intelligent individuals researching, calling, and visiting different rehab facilities to find one that could handle the complex problems of TBI AND PTSD. Sadly we all felt like we’re looking for a needle in a haystack.

 Dealing with a brain injury is difficult for anyone, and rightfully so, but what we have right now is scores of individuals who have served our Country, suffering with complex problems….. and families are left to try and find help on their own. Granted there are new; programs, web sites, organizations and agencies being made available to our wounded each day. But for those who have been wounded prior to these programs being started, they rarely have knowledge of the programs existence.

 Fortunately; the family I’m speaking of, was eventually able to find a suitable inpatient placement for this TBI soldier, but I have to wonder.... how long will it be before we hear of another family who is looking for the treatments that seem rather impossible to find?

Hence the question; where does a person turn?