Speech-language pathologists (SLP) provide rehabilitation to people who experience traumatic brain injury (TBI), but often the family is left with questions about the rehabilitation process, the logistics of care, and where to find more information.

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers that may provide valuable information to families as they rebuild their lives after TBI:

• What is the Division of Mental Health and how can it help me?
• What is acute rehabilitation?
• Where can I find more information about Rehabilitation Facilities and Programs in North Carolina?
• What is a skilled nursing facility?
• What is home health?
• What is vocational rehabilitation?
• What is a TBI support group?
• Where can a caregiver for a patient with TBI find support?
• Where can I find general brain injury information?

What is the Division of Mental Health and how can it help me?

In North Carolina, brain injury is considered a developmental disability. The NC Division of Mental Health provides support for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI), including residential services, help finding jobs, case management, and in-home support.

What is acute rehabilitation?

Acute rehabilitation is one option for patients leaving the hospital. Patients receive intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapies in addition to ongoing nursing and medical care.

Individuals must be able to tolerate at least three hours of therapy a day. In general, therapy schedules are highly structured, with rest periods built in to prevent fatigue. Therapists work together to assess strengths and weaknesses then develop comprehensive goals based on individual needs. Often, these goals focus on the patient gaining as much independence as possible.

Where can I find more information about Rehabilitation Facilities and Programs in North Carolina?

• Durham Rehabilitation Institute, Durham Regional Hospital, Durham
• WakeMed Rehabilitation, Raleigh
• Regional Rehabilitation Center, Greenville
• Moses Cone Rehabilitation Center, Greensboro
• Carolinas Rehabilitation, Charlotte

What is a skilled nursing facility?

A skilled nursing facility, also referred to as a sub-acute rehabilitation facility, provides ongoing physical, occupational, and speech therapies emphasizing independence and self-sufficiency.

This is a less intensive setting than acute rehab but continues to provide structure and supervision. Patients must be past the need for intensive medical care.

What is home health?

Home health refers to medical services that are provided in the home. Services may include skilled nursing, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy.

Home health services are provided for persons who are homebound or who have significant difficulty leaving home.

What is vocational rehab?

Through vocational rehabilitation, an individual receives training in a specific field with the aim of regaining employment and independence. It is an option for someone who is unable to return to his or her previous job due to a disability.

NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Local Vocational Rehab Offices:

Durham: 919-560-6810

Chapel Hill: 919-969-7350

Raleigh: 919-733-7807

Lumberton: 910-618-5513

What is a TBI support group?

A TBI support group is a group of individuals (patients, family, and friends) who meet regularly to exchange mutual support, often focusing on issues surrounding TBI. For a more complete list, please refer to the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina's Web site.

Local North Carolina Support Groups

Asheville, Smoky Mt. Brain Injury Support Group
828-627-2357

Boone, Appalachian Brain Injury Support Group
828-264-4230
kiwimoose@hotmail.com

Chapel Hill, UNC Rehab Brain Injury Support Group
919-966-8813
karla_thompson@med.unc.edu

Charlotte, Humpty Dumpty TBI Support Group
704-377-8000
danby125@aol.com

Charlotte, Metrolina Brain Injury Association
704-362-1472

Durham, Durham Brain Injury Support Group
919-529-1241
scohen@learningservices.com

Fayetteville, Fayetteville Brain Injury Support Group
910-432-5285

Goldsboro, Brain Injury Rehab that Helps (BIRTH)
919-734-0266

Greensboro, Greater Greensboro Support Group
336-625-1766

Henderson, Kerr Lake Brain Injury Support Group
252-430-4011
kfalkner@vgfw.ncmh.org

Hickory, Catawba Valley Brain Injury Alliance
828-304-9096

Lenoir, Foothills Area Brain Injury Support Group  
828-758-0463

New Bern, Coastal Brain Injury Support Group  
252-636-5029
jdonnelly@newbernnc.com

Raleigh, Triangle Brain Injury Support Group
800-377-1464     
bianc@bianc.net

Raleigh, The Force
919-833-9634

Statesville, Surviving Angels 
704-528-0399    
ashleyp@vnet.net

Wilmington, Wilmington Brain Injury Support Group
800-778-7033
jayne.sanderson@nhhn.org

Winston Salem, Piedmont Brain Injury Support Group 
336-713-8393
pcromer@wfubmc.edu

Where can a caregiver for a patient with TBI find support?

Providing care to patients with TBI can be a stressful experience. View a list of online support tools for TBI patient caregivers.

Read the "Caring for the Caregiver a Patient with TBI" care guide.

Where can I find general brain injury information?

There are numerous organizations and Web sites dedicated to traumatic brain injury information. View a list of our recommended resources for TBI information.