Training for Independence

Training for Independence (TI) programmes focus on restoring a client’s independence and their ability to participate in their wider community to the maximum extent practicable while reducing their likely need for further rehabilitation.

Training for Independence

This is achieved through education, support, training and rehabilitation of clients in their own home, community or their work place.

At ABI Rehabilitation we provide programmes for:

  • TI for children and young people
  • TI for adults with a traumatic brain injury

Programmes can include:

Educating the client and their family/whanau/carers about the impact of the injury and potential for quality of life.

Empowering the family/whānau/carers.

Completing risk identification and management relating to the injury, and teaching safety management.

Integrating the client’s vocational, community activities and hobbies into the TI programme, where appropriate.

Introducing or reintroducing the client to community-based activities and teaching them the skills to be able to independently access these activities safely across all domains of the client’s life.

Developing social and communication skills, and establishing social confidence.

Providing training in behaviour management strategies, fatigue management, health and hygiene, and compensatory strategies.

Training clients to be able to undertake domestic tasks, childcare, and access transport.

Promoting ordinary physical activities to durably maintain a level of physical activity and fitness.

Promoting healthy choices in regard to lifestyle, which may include education around drugs and alcohol, exercise and nutrition.

Teaching strategies to help concentration and to increase or maintain independence in personal and domestic daily living.

Age-appropriate cognitive activities of daily living.

ABI Rehabilitation’s community based training for independence programmes can have input from a range of skilled professionals including:

  • Occupational therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Dietician
  • Speech language therapist
  • Social worker
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Registered Nurse

Interventions

Behaviour management

  • Participation
  • Recreation
  • Return to pre-injury work including setting up the workplace, and liaison with employers
  • Preparing a client to enter a vocational programme while continuing with non-vocational training
  • Participatation at school, including training and education of school staff
  • Education of Whanau/family and carers to support home based rehab programmes
  • Pain strategies and adaptation related to activities of daily living
  • Diet and weight management (injury related)
  • Financial arrangements, payment of expenses
  • Shoulder cuff issues from wheelchair transfer