Participation in a social and recreational day programme increases community integration and reduces family burden of persons with acquired brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To describe and evaluate a new day programme for persons living with an acquired brain injury (ABI), including persons exhibiting challenging behaviours. Activities were designed to reduce participants' social isolation, increase participation in community activities and increase social and leisure skills. It was expected that community integration would increase and challenging behaviours and family burden would decrease for day programme participants.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Pre-post convenience sample design. Sixty-one participants and family members completed questionnaires before starting the day programme and after 6-month participation.

MEASURES

Community Integration Questionnaire, Overt Behaviour Scale, Burden Assessment Scale, Goal Attainment Scaling.

RESULTS

Participants had increased community integration (p = 0.000) and decreased family burden (p = 0.006). There was a trend to decreased severity of challenging behaviour. Participants and family members were very satisfied. Results suggest that the programme was effective in reducing participants' social isolation and increasing appropriate interpersonal behaviours.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation increased community integration and reduced burden on family caregivers. ABI day programmes help fill the void left after other rehabilitation services end and provide survivors with opportunities to engage in a variety of activities. Persons living with ABI have need for ongoing social, recreational and life skill coaching services after formal rehabilitation has been completed.