DAY PROGRAM

NRLC provides comprehensive post-acute rehabilitation services in a community-based setting to persons with acquired brain injuries and other neurological impairments. These services include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Cognitive Therapy. Vocational Evaluation and Job Coaching Services are offered as a part of the return to work program. This program offers services to individuals who are continuing to implement cognitive and behavioral strategies developed to compensate for their disabilities. The program is able to prepare individuals for discharge to an independent living situation. Back

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATIONS

Holistic Evaluations for individuals with an acquired brain injury on a Day Program or Residential basis are offered to determine an individual’s deficits and to develop an appropriate treatment plan to empower adult individuals to achieve the full and independent lifestyles in the least restrictive environment as possible. Physical, cognitive, health, psychosocial, behavioral, vocational, educational, and recreational skills are developed by participation in therapies or in real life functional activities with supervision and assistance as needed. Back

PERSONALIZED CARE PLANS

All clients received individualized treatment plans. Care and treatment are provided by Physical, Occupational, Speech/Cognitive, Vocational, Nursing, and Rehabilitation Educators. Neuropsychology services, Physiatrist services, nursing care, vision assessments, substance abuse counseling, nutritional assessments, psychiatric consultations, music therapy, pet therapy, art therapy, and driver safety and testing are also available. All services are tailored to meet an individual’s needs and deficits. A non-traditional and family- like environment is designed to create support and empower individuals after a debilitating accident or traumatic event. Back

PHYSICAL THERAPY

The Physical Therapist develops individualized programs, so that our clients can reach the maximum potential in strength, endurance and coordination. Treatments are designed to minimize residual physical disability and to contribute to the client’s comfort and well-being. The Therapist then translates those programs into applicable functional programs for use by the client in their daily activities to reinforce the progress made in Physical Therapy. Back

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

Serious behavioral concerns sometimes arise following acquired brain injury. NRLC offers Behavior Stabilization programs to assist individuals who exhibit serious aggression, extreme impulsivity, severe sexual inappropriateness, and / or behaviors that have resulted in legal entanglements. The Behavioral Program utilizes principles and techniques of behavioral analysis in developing individual programs with outcome goals. The program focuses on a positive reinforcement system designed to increase adaptive behaviors and self-care skills, as the primary means of reducing inappropriate behavior or bad habits. Emphasis is placed on the reinforcement of positive behavior. The intervention method that is utilized will be the least intrusive. Some of the behavioral techniques utilized include verbal redirection and refocusing, cues and prompts, shaping behavior towards the ultimate goal, and intermittent reinforcement. All interventions and methods will be assessed at each interdisciplinary staff meetings and monthly treatment review meeting to determine the effectiveness of the strategies being utilized in attaining the behavioral goals, as specified in the individual’s Plan of Service (Outcome Goal Plan). Back

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

The Occupational Therapist works to ensure the greatest level of independence. A functional-integrative approach is used in the development of the treatment activities. Effective training is carried over to the person’s home or work environments, in order to enhance functional independence in his natural environments. Specific upper body strengthening, gross and fine motor skills are addressed by the Occupational Therapist. Occupational therapy focuses on home management, money management, leisure development, safety awareness, and activities of daily living skills training. Back

SPEECH/COGNITIVE THERAPY

The Speech Pathologist addresses: functional communication, cognitive skill building, expressive language development, functional pragmatic skill building, and comprehension skill building through group or individual sessions. The Speech Pathologist would work with other staff members to develop a functional daily routine with speech exercises. The clients are involved in a variety of activities to improve his cognitive skills, specifically, memory, sequencing and planning. The ongoing cycle of preparation, experiences, and feedback is essential to increase independence and confidence in the home and in the community. Back

INTERNAL CASE MANAGEMENT

The NRLC Social Worker or Internal Case Manager provides guidance and education in brain injury for families, guardians, or other interested parties. The Social Worker coordinates family contacts, home visits, internal and external case management to facilitate the client’s short or long-term stay in placement. The Social Worker counsels the clients, as needed, so they may express their needs and to develop realistic goals. The Social Worker coordinates admissions and discharges so that entry into placement is smooth and trouble-free and discharges to the appropriate environment are coordinated to be successful. Back

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

NRLC provides a full continuum of pre-vocational programming for community-based opportunities. The client undergoes a process of assessment for matching the individual with an appropriate occupation. Interpretation of data is used in identifying areas in which accommodation, specific strategies, or special instruction may be appropriate for each individual. Objective profiles include all identifiable assets and barriers to achieving a successful rehabilitation goal or plan. The focus is on identifying work interests, learning job seeking skills, interviewing skills, appropriate work behaviors, obtaining work trials, and gainful employment. A job coach can be utilized in the community to assist the client adapt, cope, and plan strategies for their job placement. Back

SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING

At the NRLC residential program, the clients are involved in a structured program from 7:30 am until 9:30pm daily. In this program, they participate in a variety of functional daily activities that facilitate their cognitive, physical, occupational, and community re-entry goals. Staff members teach and supervising routines in order to enhance memory, orientation, and independence. Our clients are involved in planning for their weekly activities to promote executive functioning and planning skills. Supervision is provided for a variety of activities and group interactions with other participants. These might include meals, writing journals, or activities in the community. This Social Skills Training is designed to improve their interactions and to learn alternative and more appropriate methods of interacting with others. Direct feedback about social skills and role modeling from staff members are cornerstones of this Social Skills Training Program. Daily opportunities to practice interactions with peers and community members are an important part of generalizing this training into the community and home. Back

NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

NRLC offers services to meet the neuropsychological and psychosocial needs of our clients including adjustment to functional limitations, changes in relationships, and changes in home and work environments. A consultant Neuropsychologist is available to perform neuropsychological testing to assist in determining the optimal method of learning and retaining new information after a traumatic injury. They can also provide individual or group counseling, as necessary to help our clients to maintain relationships and build new relationships. Back

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

The medical staff at NRLC provides a safety net for the clients in managing medications, appointments to medical consultants in the community, medical evaluations, and handling on going medical needs. A Registered Nurse who is on call 24 hours per day and a Physiatrist who schedules regular visits to NRLC provide the necessary medical supervision to ensure the medical stability of our clients, and they insure that the direct rehabilitation staff provide the necessary care to each of our clients. Back

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

The Supervised Independent Living Program is designed for stable individuals with an acquired brain injury who require residential programming with a minimal to moderate level of supervision and support. Supervised community settings offer long-term participants significant independence within a well-defined and supervised structure. The goal of this program is to provide treatment and support for individuals who have the ability to live in a less restricted environment, but require minimal to moderate support with their activities of daily living. Emphasis is placed on encouraging independence while offering support as needed. The program also emphasizes the importance of developing skills for self-advocacy, community re-entry and vocational or educational development.
Located within community homes or commercial apartment buildings, participants have significant opportunity to interact with their community. Most participants are engaged in some form of productive activity such as competitive employment, volunteer placements, or sheltered workshops during the weekday. Program structure acts as bookends to these weekday activities, filling the rest of the day and weekends with scheduled activities and tasks. Back