Cost effective ways of facilitating home based rehabilitation and support

The long term support of people with neurobehavioural disorders following a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can amount to a lifetime cost of several million dollars. Such costs are often obtained from personal injury compensation. However, those not eligible for such awards often depend on their families to provide support and care at no direct financial cost, but with indirect financial and human costs in terms of loss of productivity, and increased stress and health problems.

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of support workers in the long-term care of those with neurobehavioural deficits following severe TBI and to discuss the feasibility of meeting some aspects of their role with technological solutions.

This critical review uses observational and cost-analysis methodologies to establish the roles and costs associated with staff supporting people with neurobehavioural disorders resulting from severe TBI.

The role of support workers is varied and includes prompting to initiate and guide simple or complex activities, promoting social behaviour and managing emotional reactions. Some of these roles can be fulfilled by existing technology.

Cost effective care of those with long-term neurobehavioural disorders can be provided by a combination of human support and existing technology.