Vol. 531 No. 4
66 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce in each health board area a dedicated facility for persons under 65 years of age with brain damage to cater for rehabilitation and long-term care. [6033/01]
As the Deputy is probably aware, acquired brain injury in young adults is most often sustained as a result of a road traffic accident, a sporting accident or fall. The degree of sustained disability is ultimately dictated by the location and severity of the injury to the brain and can range from being mild and, with the assistance of appropriate services, short-term to severe requiring on-going support services or constant nursing care.
Individuals with an acquired injury form part of a larger client group, known as the young chronic sick. The need to provide step down rehabilitation services to deliver on-going therapeutic programmes to the young chronic sick on discharge from acute hospital care or medical rehabilitation has been identified as a priority service for development. In the case of acquired brain injury, this service will provide the appropriate therapeutic programmes to enable those with cognitive impairment and psycho-social functioning problems, including the milder syndromes of inappropriate behaviours, to make the transition from hospital to the community. Needless to say, because these conditions are generally acquired in adolescence or early adult years, significant psychological strain is placed on the family and the on-going care and support required by the individual and his or her family needs to be addressed within the community support services.
