To help your loved one recover from a brain injury, it's important to help him or her not get over-stimulated.
His or her brain is unable to make sense of all of the information coming in such as sounds, lights, touches and smells.
In the early stages of rehabilitation, it is important to provide an environment that reduces brain over-stimulation so he or she can participate in rehabilitation.
Members of the health care team will work to keep your loved one on a regular schedule and plan his or her care in a quiet, dimly lit environment. Without this, your loved one may become overwhelmed and more confused. He or she may withdraw and shut down or even become aggressive.
The amount of stimulation your loved one receives will increase as he or she improves.
Signs your loved one may be over-stimulated:
Tell a member of the health care team if you think your loved one is over-stimulated.
Talk with any member of your loved one's health care team if you have any questions or concerns.
Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute uses a system of communication that identifies how the environment should be managed for each person based on where he or she is in the rehabilitation process. This is called the environmental management system (EMS).
The system is based on a traffic light:
The level may change based on your loved one's needs and health care team's advice.
Red Light | Yellow Light | Green Light | |
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Lighting |
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Noise |
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Room décor |
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TV, video, music |
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Visitors |
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Touch, handling |
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Treatment location |
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Notes |
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