Author: The BridgeLine

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and this year the Brain Injury of Association of Virginia’s theme is More Than My Brain Injury.

This public awareness campaign provides a platform for educating the public about the incidence and prevalence of brain injury as well as the needs of individuals who are injured and their families.

Anyone who has been affected by brain injury is welcome to be a part of this campaign! Survivors and their parents, spouses, siblings, extended families, friends, caregivers, healthcare providers, and more!

For more information on the campaign and how you can participate please visit https://www.biav.net/education/brain-injury-awareness-month/

To preserve friendships, clubhouse members and staff connect at a monthly social activity –  and January was no different. We were very excited to come together and complete a virtual puzzle together.

With the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in the area The BridgeLine Place closed its doors again to ensure the wellbeing of all.

Due to technology and the dedication of members, we could continue the program virtually. Each morning, members and staff gather online via Zoom meetings to continue the work ordered day virtually and maintain important social connections.

Brain Injury Awareness Day at the General Assembly will be Tuesday, February 1, 2022. This year the Brain Injury Association of Virginia will be leading a Phone A Friend campaign to contact your local legislators to show your support for the two budget amendments supported by The BridgeLine and The Brain Injury Association of Virginia.

For more information please visit https://www.biav.net/about-us/advocacy/phoneafriend2022/

#braininjuryawareness #thebridgeline

Women Caregivers for Individuals Following Brain Injury

A study to better understand the lived experiences of women serving as full-time caregivers to survivors of brain injury is seeking participants. Our current knowledge indicates that a majority of caregiving is provided by mothers, partners, sisters, and daughters, but few studies have looked specifically at the experiences of these women. There is a need to better understand factors impacting the quality of life for these women caregivers such as social isolation, financial constraints, and family dynamics. Also, learning of the successes from a caregiver’s experience may lend support for others in similar situations. The results of this project will assist in developing helpful supports and resources for women caregivers.

This work is being led by Dr. Cynthia O’Donoghue and Dr. Cara Meixner, both professors at
James Madison University. The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board for human subjects research at JMU.
Women caregivers will be invited to participate in a 30-45 minute telephone or Zoom interview. An invite will be sent via email, but for individuals that do not have computer access, contact by phone (and phone interviews) is possible. No participant names nor names of the individual they are caring for will be identifiable.
We are seeking

• Volunteers who identify as women, age 18 or older who are in the role of full-time, live-in
caregiver to a survivor of brain injury.
• The survivor’s brain injury must have occurred at least one year previously.
• Participants must be able to participate in an interview that will be held in English.

If you are interested or know someone who might wish to participate, please contact:
Cara Meixner
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 540-568-4830

Written by BridgeLine Volunteer, Kaymin Hester

It is no secret that The BridgeLine’s many programs have done a world of good for dozens of adults with brain injuries. However, I had the special opportunity to speak with one of the Clubhouse’s long-time participants, Barbie York. Barbie has been part of the Clubhouse program since 2004 and hearing her experience was an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the true benefits of The BridgeLine. 

The primary aspect that Barbie emphasized was the sense of connection the Clubhouse provides. She spoke about the pervading sense of isolation that became apparent through her recovery from her injury and how the Clubhouse assisted in eliminating this isolation. In fact, many of her friends today are from the Clubhouse and she expressed her satisfaction with the opportunity to interact with a multitude of people whose experiences are both similar to and different from hers. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has halted many programs, both in our community and beyond it, but The BridgeLine has persevered. Barbie spoke about how impactful the program continues to be, even through its virtual format. She applauded the opportunities to get involved that persisted through the transition to virtual Clubhouse meetings and again spoke enthusiastically about the way The BridgeLine allows her to interact with people who understand what it’s like to navigate a brain injury. 

Barbie enjoys reading, music, television, and her daily walk around the UVA campus. When asked about what she’d learned from her experience as an adult with a brain injury, she said that it’s important to think about your actions and prepare in advance for any steps you take. Barbie puts this advice into use every day and she thanks The BridgeLine for being so helpful in supporting her. 

The BridgeLine features programs dedicated to assisting adults in every stage of rehabilitation, offering both practical and emotional support. Barbie is proof of the benefits of taking advantage of The Bridgeline’s opportunities for encouragement, assistance, and above all, connection. However, this couldn’t be possible without the generous support of The Bridgeline’s donors. All the volunteers, staff, members, and residents are so grateful to be allowed to continue making such a strong impact on our community.