Summer Foundation Podcasts

Lecture Title: ABI and Challenging Behaviour: Perspectives of a Grandma Presented by Occupational Therapist and Clinical Neuropsychologist, Sue Sloan. Lecture Bio: Challenging behaviour following acquired brain injury (ABI) typically leads to severely depleted life role participation – the outcomes of which include boredom, loneliness and a sense of hopelessness. Sue will reflect on stories of people living in shared supported accommodation to draw connections between the themes of behaviour, participation and relationships between residents and staff. The focus will be on keys to success in building pro-social behaviour and role participation. Transcript: https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/allen-martin-memorial-lecture-transcript.pdf

HE WENT BACK INTO HIS SHELL LIKE A TORTOISE”: EXPLORING THE CHALLENGING JOURNEY OF STROKE SURVIVAL Stroke has been described as a double crisis because survivors and families are faced with both the need to adapt to the physical, cognitive and emotional consequences of the stroke and the need to negotiate a foreign culture – the health care system. The aim of this project was to gain some understanding of how stroke survivors and their family carers have experienced the stroke care continuum. In her lecture, Jacinta will discuss how the care experience emerged as a process comprising a series of phases that could both overlap and re-occur. Transcript: https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/breakfastclub4transcript_oct2017.pdf

TREATING FATIGUE AND SLEEP DISTURBANCE FOLLOWING BRAIN INJURY WITH COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY Fatigue and sleep disturbance represent two of the most common symptoms after acquired brain injury, and cause significant difficulties with activity participation and quality of life. Despite this, there has been limited investigation of treatments and currently there are no treatment guidelines for managing fatigue and sleep problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke. This presentation will focus on the use of cognitive behaviour therapy to treat fatigue and sleep problems after brain injury and will include discussion of the findings of a randomised controlled trial conducted at the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, on which Adam and Dana are co-investigators. Transcript: https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BreakfastClubTranscript0908_Final.pdf

Behaviours of Concern (BoC) such as aggression are a debilitating and distressing consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Through their research, Kate Gould and Amelia Hicks explored the lived experience of BoC and treatment history in individuals with TBI, and their family members and/or clinicians. In brief, it was found that participants with TBI and their informants described frequent and persistent BoC, particularly physical and verbal aggression and socially inappropriate behaviour, even many years post-injury. Kate and Amelia highlighted the impact of BoC on relationships and employment which can lead to social isolation, a loss of sense of self, anger, depression, and in turn, aggressive behaviours. Transcript: https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-BREAKFAST-LECTURE-1-SUMMER-SERIES-2017.pdf

Health Disability Interface Workshop by Summer Foundation Ltd

Podcast of the Specialist Disability Accommodation Workshop held in December 2016.

Professor Jacinta Douglas, Summer Foundation’s Chair of Living Well with Acquired Brain Injury at La Trobe University, presents a lecture on “Maximising community connection after brain injury: a multi-component program“.

This presentation will discuss associated reactions (ARs) of the arm and the impact these involuntary arm movements have on people with acquired brain injury. The many negative effects of ARs will be explored looking at both the physical and psychological sequelae. The challenges that currently exist in the field of ARs will be highlighted, with a primary focus on the need for clinicians to be able to accurately identify ARs and assess changes in response to treatment. Relevant literature will be outlined, emphasising the need for a new gold-standard, clinically feasible and functional outcome measure of ARs.

This lecture explores the complex nature of family resilience following acquired brain injury (ABI). While ABI literature has largely been dominated by a focus on family burden and stress, a focus on resilience presents a constructive approach to dealing with the trauma and loss associated with ABI. In her lecture, Franca Butera-Prinzi will present a systemic and dynamic view of resilience that is critical to helping families cope with the grief and stress surrounding ABI.

The NDIS is a long awaited reform, and one that has enormous potential to improve the lives of people with disability, especially those living in, or at risk of entering a nursing home. But what impact has it had to date and what are the implications of a system rolling out while still finding its feet? What is working, and what still needs tweaking? This year’s annual public forum explored some of the issues and opportunities surrounding the NDIS.

TOPIC: Return to Driving after Traumatic Brain Injury - Processes, Outcomes and Driver Rehabilitation PRESENTED BY: Pam Ross, Grade 4 Senior Occupational Therapist, Driving and Vocational Rehabilitation Coordinator, Epworth Rehabilitation.

TOPIC: Offenders with ABI in the Magistrates’ Court: Support services & sentencing considerations. PRESENTED BY: Deputy Chief Magistrate Ms Jelena Popovic

TOPIC: Evaluating models of housing and support for people with acquired brain injury. PRESENTED BY: Libby Callaway, Summer Foundation Research Manager and Lecturer, Monash University

TOPIC: Developing and maintaining a sense of self and social connection several years after severe brain injury. PRESENTED BY: Jacinta Douglas, PhD Professor of Acquired Brain Injury (Summer Foundation Chair, Living Well with Brain Injury), College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University

TOPIC: Physical activity levels following traumatic brain injury PRESENTED BY: Megan Hamilton, physiotherapist of the Epworth Rehabilitation TBI Community Integration team.