Traumatic brain injury: a family experience.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), sometimes referred to as a silent epidemic, affects thousands of people each year. A head injury not only affects the patient, but the entire family system as well. Families experience a myriad of needs during this time of crisis. With the immediate focus on the patient's physical or cognitive state, the family's needs may go unnoticed or unrecognized. It is imperative health care professionals understand the emotional impact on family needs, and the unique grieving patterns which influence their ability to cope with this situation. Caregivers are advised to assess, formulate and implement a plan of care for the family as well as the patient. Since families play such an integral role in the patient's recovery process, it is crucial to recognize the scope of the TBI experience and provide care within the context of the individual family system.