At the Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute (NRI) at Brookhaven Hospital, we understand that individuals with a moderate to severe brain injury will have needs that evolve over time. For individuals with a brain injury, the normal effects of growing older are often accelerated. When adults are aging with a brain injury, issues like early onset dementia, fatigue, memory-loss and other neurological problems can compound the original effects of their traumatic brain injury. This can cause frustration for the individual with a brain injury and strain on their caregivers.

That’s why we’ve created the Lifespan Alternative, a unique residential program for adults aging with a brain injury. For more than 20 years, our trained technicians have been providing neurological rehabilitation, behavioral therapy and counseling services to individuals with moderate to severe brain injuries. Our treatments provide supportive neurological care designed to help our patients maintain certain skill sets and support cognitive health.

The Lifespan Alternative provides expert neurological care in a compassionate environment so that adults with traumatic brain injuries can experience maximum dignity and independence as they grow older.

Brain Injury Services
Our services focus on helping individuals to maintain maximum dignity and independence as they grow older.

Aging With a Brain Injury
Brain injuries can accelerate the affects of aging. Neurological care can improve quality of life.

Neurologic Rehabilitation
Our trained experts focus on providing you with cutting-edge neurologic rehabilitation treatments.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation
The Lifespan program at Brookhaven focuses on providing long-term care and life planning.

Caregivers and Mental Health Problems
Treating individuals with mental health problems can have a serious effect on caregivers.

Moderate to Severe Brain Injury
Our treatment plan can often help individuals with moderate to severe brain injuries live long and meaningful lives.

Long-term Disability Assistance
A comprehensive program to address the long-term needs of a person living with a brain injury disability

Behavioral Problems and Depression
Lifespan can help treat adults with brain injuries' behavioral health problems as they grow older.

Comprehensive Professional Rehabilitation for Brain Injury
Lifespan supports and maintains rehabilitation gains over the years when rehabilitation is over.

Brain Injury & Aging

Brian Injury AgingToday there are over 5 million Americans who are living with a disability related to brain injury. Each year this number will increase. A person injured prior to their 30th birthday is likely to experience a lifespan of 78.6 years according to a study conducted by the National Institutes for Health in 2001. As people who are living with a brain injury age, the normal effects of the aging process interact with the disabling conditions caused by their brain injury. In many respects, brain injury accelerates the aging process and has been linked with the potential for early onset dementia and other neurological problems. The person aging with a brain injury may experience increased functional losses such as: mobility; strength; fatigue; memory; problem-solving and have greater difficulty with vision and hearing.

The research related to the lifelong effects of brain injury indicates that the person may experience an earlier and more significant cognitive decline than their peers. The psychological and behavioral problems which are noted following an injury may persist and in some cases may increase as the person ages. Problems with sleep, arthritis and pain that we associate with the “normal aspects of aging” can become more significant for the person with a brain injury and impact on their mobility and independence. Aging with a brain injury will affect every aspect of the person’s life and their ability to maintain their independence.

Contact Brookhaven Hospital today at 888-298-4673 to learn more about the Lifespan Alternative.