This exercise has been used to help explain what happens during a brain injury and why a person may experience certain situations like memory loss.  This exercise is meant to be done, not just by reading it.  If your interested we suggest downloading it, printing it and then grab a pen and paper and actually do it

Click this link to open the Document.

Doug Mitchell Embracing 2.0 YouTube Video 

Website: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/services/acquired-brain-injury-services 

Interior Health - Acquired Brain Injury Services - Interior Health Acquired Brain Injury Services help adults living in the community who are 19 to 64 years old and have a documented brain injury. Acquired Brain Injury services also help families, caregivers, and staff in supporting individuals with brain injury and in understanding and managing the changes to their family that may occur after brain injury.   Services may not be available in your community.  Contact your local Home and Community Care office.

Website: https://www.nbia.ca/resources/ 

Free E-Books, Brochure & Projects - Northern Brain Injury Association- Many times the biggest struggle after being hurt is finding brain injury resources to help. The Northern Brain Injury Association (NBIA) is constantly compiling and creating resources for the residents in northern British Columbia, to assist them in accessing resources online and close to their home. Our objective is to prevent brain injuries, and bring awareness to the many barriers facing survivors of brain injury living in northern British Columbia.

Website: https://www.braininjuryalliance.ca/ 

The Brain Injury Alliance is a province wide organization in British Columbia composed of individuals and organizations working together to improve the quality of life for persons living with a brain injury, their families, and their communities.

Website: https://www.nbia.ca/

Northern Brain Injury Association - Our mission is to advance brain injury prevention, education and support in order to reduce injury, and improve the quality of life for all those who are affected by its life altering effects.

Website: https://www.pgbig.ca/ 

Prince George Brain Injured Group Society - The Prince George Brain Injured Group (PG BIG) is a charitable non-profit organization with the mission of providing education, prevention and community rehabilitation to enhance the lives of persons living with the effects of acquired brain injury (ABI), and their families, in and around Prince George, British Columbia.

Website: https://www.kbia.ca/ 

Kamloops Brain Injury Association - KBIA advocates for and provides specialized programs to survivors of acquired brain injuries, and facilitates education and awareness in the community.

Website: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/brain-injury/brain-injury-services 

Fraser Health - Acquired Brain Injury Services  Helping those who have experienced brain injuries after birth.

Sunflower lanyard: https://www.torontopearson.com/en/accessibility/sunflower-lanyards 

Website: https://www.brainstreams.ca/our-work/the-bc-brain-injury-association/  

Brainstreams.ca is the official website of the The BC Brain Injury Association (BCBIA). We are a non-profit provincial organization in British Columbia serving the interests of the acquired brain injury population. It was founded in 1982 and was incorporated July 6th, 1983. In November 2012, BCBIA and the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference Society (PCBICS) joined together to become one organization with a focused and clear purpose to support the province of BC’s brain injury community. BCBIA engaged The Governance Group to help facilitate the merger and to lead the new board through a strategic planning process and active board governance development. The strategic planning and governance development process began in the spring of 2014.

Website: https://braininjurycanada.ca/en

Brain Injury Canada - Supporting the brain injury community through education, advocacy, awareness and collaboration. Brain Injury Canada is engaging people with lived experience to set the research agenda for solutions to key issues such as traumatic brain injury. We’re working to support our funded researchers in designing their projects to achieve maximum impact. And we’re filling gaps in the early stages of the clinical research pathway with partners who know how to bring ideas to market.

Website: https://braininjurycanada.ca/en

Health Link BC - traumatic brain injury

Website: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/abios

ABIOS is a specialist community-based rehabilitation service to enhance the service system for people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and their families. Our mission is to assist people with ABI in Queensland, their families and caregivers to achieve an improved quality of life and community integration through increased independence, choice, opportunity and access to appropriate and responsive services. This is great website!

Website: https://www.headway.org.uk/ 

Headway - Brain Injury Support - good info but based in UK

Brain Injury Canada’s interactive Service Directory

They have compiled an extensive list of organizations and services related to brain injury to make searching for help as easy as possible.

Here’s how to search for a service using their directory:

1. Select your province from the drop-down menu under ‘Filters’.

2. After selecting your province, select from the drop-down menu for services. You can select up to 10 services.

3. Click search and explore your various options.

4. On the right-hand side of the search page, there are filters you can apply to make your search more specific. These filters will be applied automatically after you select them.

5. Follow the ‘See more’ button on the listing to learn more about the organization and the services it provides.

Click for more info 

Brain Streams - BC Brain Injury Association 

This list of services available in British Columbia, Canada,  is a work in progress. If you would like to propose that a particular service be considered for inclusion in this list,  please contact us with your request.

You can search this list by either keyword or location. Scroll down below the map and enter a keyword in the first search box, or a place name or postal code in the second box. You can also click directly on a category link to view all the resources on that topic.

In addition to searching through this list, we strongly suggest that you connect with your local  Brain Injury Organization as they are very familiar with the range of services available in your community and are excellent sources of support, advice and help in navigating the system.

Click for more info 

BC Brain Wellness Program 

We offer evidence-informed lifestyle and wellness programs for individuals living with chronic brain conditions, their care partners, and healthy agers. We integrate active research and education in all that we do. Our program empowers individuals to tailor their participation to physical and cognitive abilities, rather than diagnostic labels. As the main outreach arm of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at UBC, our ongoing delivery of classes supplements traditional medical care and can lead participants to a better quality of life.

Click for more info 

Stroke Recovery Association of British Columbia

There is information here on the steps to recovering from a stroke, modifying one’s home, educating caregivers, finding support funding, learning how to communicate using technology aids, and more. They also provide information for support groups, virtual speech exercises, some physical exercises, and links to more physical rehabilitation resources.

• This website will also refer you to a UK website called Stroke Association: https://stroke.org.uk/.

• On this page, one can find online exercise programs: https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/life-after/exercise.

• Watch the introductory videos (step 1) then select which exercise group you best fit into (step 2). This will take you to a set of videos to perform over 4 weeks.

• The videos are free. After these have been completed, there are 12 additional weeks of videos to continue to make progress.

Click for more info 

The Stroke Recovery Association of BC website will also link to Stroke Class: https://strokeclass.com/.

• On this page, there is one 25-minute exercise video that is free. The remaining videos do require a fee.

Click for more info 

Stroke Recovery Navigator Program

Excellent overview of stroke rehabilitation, terms, resources, specific issues like eating, and so much more: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/illnesses-conditions/heart-health-and-stroke/stroke-rehabilitation 

Information on community-based rehabilitation services: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/community-rehabilitation. If you look at the left side-bar of this webpage, you will find additional resource information that may be helpful.

ICBC Counseling available

Good morning,

My name is Chanel, and I’m the Development Coordinator at BrainTrust Canada in Kelowna. I’m reaching out to share some exciting news—thanks to generous funding from ICBC, we are now able to offer up to 12 free counselling sessions for individuals who have been diagnosed with a brain injury.

This initiative also includes support for access to technology, helping ensure that virtual counselling is available to those who may otherwise face barriers.

Our focus is on reaching individuals in underserved areas, with particular attention to First Nations communities and seniors. That said, we are committed to ensuring that anyone living with a brain injury and seeking counselling has access to the support they need.

Attached, you’ll find our referral form along with information about eligibility criteria. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I’d be happy to connect further.

Kindest regards,

Chanel Yaworski  cyaworski@braintrustcanada.com

Development Coordinator

BrainTrust Canada

#100-215 Lawrence Ave Kelowna, BC V1Y 6L2

(250)762-3233 ext. 107

Files:  https://www.strokesurvivorsadvocacygroup.ca/post/icbc-counseling-available

Disability Tax Credit: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/segments/tax-credits-deductions-persons-disabilities/disability-tax-credit.html 

Websites:

• CanStroke: https://canadianstroke.ca/ 

• Provincial Health Services Authority Stroke Services BC: http://www.phsa.ca/our-services/programs-services/stroke-services-bc 

• Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery: http://www.ebrsr.com/  

These websites have information aimed at clinicians and researchers, however some information may also be interesting and useful to clients and caregivers.

• This specific page on CanStroke with VERY useful links to interventions, apps, videos, and more: https://canadianstroke.ca/tools-and-resources/ 

• One of the links here will take you to Stroke Engine. This page in Stroke Engine has a list of clinically researched interventions to explore: https://strokengine.ca/en/interventions/

After stroke support line: Call our After Stroke program Stroke Support Line at 1-888-540-6666 if you would like to register for the Life After Stroke Program or contact your After Stroke Coordinator 

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the rights of all individuals, including those with brain injuries, and ensures that they are treated equally under the law. Section 15 of the Charter guarantees equal rights and freedoms for everyone, regardless of physical or mental disability, and prohibits discrimination on this basis.  Additionally, a separate "Charter of Rights for People with Brain Injury" has been developed to outline specific rights related to care and services, empowering individuals and families when seeking support
Key Rights Protected by the Charter:

Equality:
Section 15 of the Charter guarantees equal rights and freedoms for all individuals, including those with brain injuries, and prohibits discrimination based on disability. 

Right to Information and Education:
The Charter, along with other legal frameworks, supports the right to information, education, and awareness about brain injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. 

Right to Participate in Society:
The Charter supports the right of individuals with brain injuries to participate fully in society, including in employment, education, and social activities, free from discrimination. 

Right to Legal Protections:
The Charter provides legal protections for all individuals, including those with brain injuries, in areas such as criminal justice, civil rights, and human rights. 

Right to Respect and Dignity:
The Charter emphasizes the right to respect and dignity for all individuals, including those with brain injuries, in all aspects of life. 

National Strategy on Brain Injury:
Bill C-277, which aimed to establish a national strategy on brain injury, was designed to promote awareness, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for people with brain injuries. While the bill died on the Order Paper after a prorogation of Parliament, it raised awareness and garnered support for addressing brain injury needs across Canada. 

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. 

Click for more info 

Website: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/ 

There is a lot of educational information here on heart disease and on stroke. It is worthwhile exploring even if one has reviewed the BC websites simply because this one has different information that is equally useful including a Services and Resources page found here: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/services-and-resources.

Speech rehabilitation is an important service that is provided to individuals who struggle with verbally communicating. The following article will begin by giving a brief introduction to what speech rehabilitation is, and after that, we will slowly go deeper to discuss the topic more in-depth. Speech rehabilitation has a significant place in the lives of those who need improvements in their communication skills and those who have speech disorders. Speech rehabilitation helps individuals by enhancing articulation, treating speech disorders, and enhancing communication skills. However, the indications that you might need speech rehabilitation involve speech, voice, communication, and motor disorders. Then we will discuss how speech rehabilitation helps people boost their communication skills, improve articulation, and enhance their standard of living. We have also provided a step-by-step guide to the procedure for speech rehabilitation. 

Click this link to open the Document.

About the Tools & Tips Document

This comprehensive document was created by local occupational therapist, Bebe Makena. It presents a variety of adaptive aids, some durable medical equipment, and functional modification tips to address a diverse set of needs that are commonly seen when providing care. Where possible, it lists some how-to insights on making your own. Bebe hopes to build this page out more in the future. 

The lists, pictures, and descriptions in this document do NOT constitute an endorsement of or prescription for any of the items or methods therein. You are expected to use this as an informational guide to do your own research and decision-making process. You are strongly encouraged to try something before you buy it when possible.  

Will the Ministry or Secondary Insurance Pay for a Device?

The Ministry's basic health services plan along with some secondary health insurance plans will cover some items, but not all. For example, they're more likely to cover a walker than a sock aid or an inspection mirror. Check with your health plan to learn more about what they will and won't cover for you and what requirements they need if they are willing to cover the expense. For example, they may need a prescription from your doctor, a letter of recommendation from a therapist who has assessed you, and/or a quote for the cost of the item from a vendor. 

Click this link to open the Tools & Tips Document.

Website: https://www.cardiachealth.ca/ 

This website also contains educational information on heart disease and stroke. They also have healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle information.

Website: https://www.afterstroke.ca/ 

Lovely website with well-organized and useful resources including peer support and caregiver guides which can be found here: https://www.afterstroke.ca/resources/.

Website:  https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca/programs/acs

Communication is one of the most basic ways we have of participating in our communities. Aphasia and other communication disorders can make that difficult. This is where MODC’s Alternative Communication Services come in.

Caregivers Support Groups 

There are 2 caregiver groups. One for spouses of stroke survivors called the Life Partners group. It's offered the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 5-6pm PT.  They also offer another caregiver group for families that's offered the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 5-6pm.

Register here for either group.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LgLPEQJhz0Oew_OpyuNE5QXNoOLeJRdFqZSa1ki6KXpUNEFHVUNTN0FWMjFaQzYxVDhZRjEyUFJRUyQlQCN0PWcu

MODC Disability advocacy network: Disability Advocacy Network | March of Dimes Canada

Website: https://strokerecoverybc.ca/ 

There is information here on the steps to recovering from a stroke, modifying one’s home, educating caregivers, finding support funding, learning how to communicate using technology aids, and more. They also provide information for support groups, virtual speech exercises, some physical exercises, and links to more physical rehabilitation resources.

• This website will also refer you to a UK website called Stroke Association: https://stroke.org.uk/.

• On this page, one can find online exercise programs: https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/life-after/exercise.

• Watch the introductory videos (step 1) then select which exercise group you best fit into (step 2). This will take you to a set of videos to perform over 4 weeks.

• The videos are free. After these have been completed, there are 12 additional weeks of videos to continue to make progress.

The Stroke Recovery Association of BC website will also link to Stroke Class: https://strokeclass.com/.

• On this page, there is one 25-minute exercise video that is free. The remaining videos do require a fee.

Website:  https://interior-west.pathwaysbc.ca/programs/2256

Stroke Recovery Navigator Program

Website: https://www.aphasia.ca/health-care-providers/resources-and-tools/free-resources/ 

Free Resources for folks that have aphasia

Website:  https://aphasiarecoveryconnection.org/ 

Aphasia Recovery Connection

Self Directed Learning: Aphasia Institute: Self directed learning: Aphasia Institute  

Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/home-support 

 BC-wide overview (good info)

Website: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/home-and-community-care 

Another overview from IH with some instructional info.  We support a philosophy that home, with appropriate supports, is the best place to recover from illness and injury, manage chronic conditions and live out final days. Seniors who have been admitted to hospital will likely recover more slowly than younger people. Evidence shows that leaving hospital as soon as possible and recuperating at home with home supports and community services is better than waiting in hospital to fully regain your strength before returning home. 

 Website: https://bc.211.ca/result/better-at-home-south-cariboo-87134697/  

Better at Home - South Cariboo

Assists seniors age 65 and over who require help with non-medical daily tasks to maintain independent living within their homes and remain connected to their communities. Services include light housekeeping, grocery shopping, friendly visits, snow shovelling, minor home repairs, light yard work, and transportation to medical and other critical appointments/social recreational activities. Fees are charged for some services on a sliding scale (based on income). Serves the South Cariboo (100 Mile House, 108 Mile House, 70 Mile House, Canim Lake, Clinton, Lac La Hache, and Lone Butte). Program hours are vary. Funded by Ministry of Health (MOH) and managed by United Way BC.

Northern Brain Injury

• Family after Brain Injury- - https://www.nbia.ca/family-after-brain-injury/ 

• Advice To Police Responding To Persons With A Brain Injury - https://www.nbia.ca/advice-to-police-responding-to-persons-with-a-brain-injury/

• Helping Person(s) Living With A Brain Injury Deal With Law Enforcement - https://www.nbia.ca/dealing-with-police/

Song - Unstoppable

A great song to listen to when life got you down - you are able to lift yourself up and be strong to face the day - Thanks Matt !!

Click here to listen with the lyrics 

Stroke Survivors Books

Best Books for Stroke Survivors Books

Website: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/yoga/

Love Your Brain Yoga builds resilience, community connection, and wellbeing - Our research-backed program supports people with brain injury and caregivers to no matter where they are in their healing journey.