“Living life on my own terms. That's my focus.”
Specialised care for acquired brain injuries, helping you live life on your own terms.
Specialised care for acquired brain injuries.
At Focus Care, we understand that acquiring a brain injury can be very challenging for yourself or a loved one. We offer the direct support that you need to live life on your own terms. Our aim is to empower you and support your independence.
We take the time to get to know each client individually, their family, their lifestyle, and their needs. We work with your strengths to provide support, tailored to your preferences.
What We Offer
Our specialised services range from one-on-one care with our Support Workers, to home nursing, creative therapies, and our Montessori Method of Care. Our attendant care services support our clients to achieve their goals, providing assistance in their home or community.
We work closely with you and your team of Allied Health Professionals and Case Managers to provide quality services that suit you and your individual needs as apart of your care plan. We are fully accredited by ACIA.
Are you a Case Manager, Allied Health Professional, Insurance Provider or Support Coordinator looking for peace of mind that your clients are receiving the best quality care?
Our range of services for people with Acquired Brain Injury
Our support workers are there to help you get ready for the day. We can help with bathing, dressing, and grooming, helping you look and feel your best.
Your Support Worker can take you to places you need to go, and accompany you on outings.
Includes medication administration, palliative care, complex wound management and care, catheter care, and bowel care.
We will work closely with your allied health professionals to achieve your goals.
You take pride in your home. Our team can help you keep it tidy, clean and safe, helping you enjoy it to the full.
Art and music therapy, with proven benefits to link to Acquired Brain Injuries.
The link between our creative therapies and acquired brain injuries
At Focus Care, we offer a range of creative therapies that may assist people with aquired brain injuries (ABI) to meet their rehabilitation goals. Art, music and pet therapies enhance cognitive, emotional, social and physical abilities, plus bring a sense of comfort and joy that may improve quality of life.
There are many proven links between these therapies, particularly art therapy, and the healing and coping of acquired brain injuries. Art therapy soothes emotional distress and provides a healthy outlet for emotions. Doing so may relieve symptoms of depression and help rebuild a sense of self.
Independence fostered in your loved ones
Focus Care incorporates the Montessori Method of Care when providing support for people living with an ABI. The Montessori Method is an innovative and individualised approach that focuses on each person’s level of interest, skills, needs and abilities.
The aim is to work with the person’s strengths to foster independence in their home and community and have moments of meaningful engagement with a purpose for life.
What our clients are saying
Have a question about our ABI care?
Everyone’s needs are different. We’ve tried to answer some common questions below, but if you have a specific question, just get in touch with our friendly team.
An acquired brain injury refers to any type of brain damage that occurs after birth. Causes of ABI include disease, blows to the head, alcohol and drug use, or oxygen deprivation.
Different types of acquired brain injuries include:
Closed – This type of brain injury frequently occurs as a result of the rapid movement of the brain inside the cranial cavity and is marked by the bruising and/or tearing of blood vessels and tissues. More specifically, a closed brain injury is one in which the injuries are completely internal and do not penetrate the skull bone. Falls, car accidents, or any incident involving excessive shaking often causes closed brain injuries.
Penetrating or Open – A penetrating brain injury, also called an open brain injury, is characterized by a break in the skull bone. Bullet wounds are a primary example of a penetrating brain injury.
Diffuse Axonal – Commonly referred to as DAI, this type of injury involves the tearing of nerve fibres caused by the shifting and rotating of the brain inside the skull. DAI often causes injury to multiple areas of the brain and coma.
Primary – This type of brain injury refers to one that is sudden but complete, meaning the injury is non-progressive. Examples of primary brain injuries include those sustained as a result of gunshot wounds, car accidents, and falls.
Secondary – Unlike primary brain injuries, secondary brain injuries are those that continue to evolve or progress after the injury is sustained. These continued changes – which can be cellular, chemical, tissue, and/or blood-related –contribute to further brain damage.
For more information, you can visit this website.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that the Australian population amounts to just under 19 million people. Of those 19 million Australians, the 1998 ABS study on Disability, Ageing and Carers estimated that there were 3.6 million people with a disability (19% of the total population).
This figure can be compared with the AIHW estimate of 328,000 people with in intellectual disability (1.86% Australians). Of these people 178,000 people required daily assistance.
Click here for a number of additional easy-to-read resources on acquired brain injuries.
ABI can affect people in many different ways. Some people have physical effects, including:
weakness, shaking, stiffness or poor balance
tiredness
changes in sleep patterns
seizures or fits
headaches
changes in vision, smell or touch
Some people experience changes in their thinking or learning abilities, including:
problems with memory
problems with concentration or attention
difficulty with planning or organisation
confusion
difficulty with communication, such as having a conversation
Some people have problems with managing their behaviour or emotions, including:
mood swings
being irritable or feeling on edge
changes in personality
You can talk to your doctor if any of these problems affect you or someone you know. If there is an emergency, call triple zero (000).
The vast majority of those who suffer from ABI require some kind of medical treatment. ABI treatment and rehabilitation generally has two goals with regard to the patient: to maximize cognitive functioning and to improve overall quality of life. Treatment and rehabilitation for acquired brain injury victims depends on various factors including the type of injury and its severity as well as patient health and family/community support. ABI treatment and rehabilitation programs are individualized based on a thorough assessment of these factors, but may include any of the following:
Physical care – such as nutritional and medication needs
Pain management – medication and other methods for alleviating the pain associated with ABI
Psychological care – includes the administration of various tests to identify any behavioural and/or emotional problems as well as necessary counselling
Self-care skills – such as bathing, grooming, and feeding
Communication skills – speech therapy and alternative modes of communication
Mobility skills – may include wheelchair use or walking device
Socialization skills – focuses on interactions with family and community
Cognitive skills – to enhance memory, problem solving, concentration, and other areas of cognitive functioning affected by the injury
Vocational skills – work-related training
Family support – includes patient/family education and training on the numerous issues relevant to living with ABI
There are a number of allied health services that can help a person with an acquired brain injury. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and exercise physiologists are all examples.
There are certain eligibility requirements you must meet in order to qualify for the NDIS. Specifically, you are deemed as eligible for the NDIS if you:
are under 65 years old when you make your application
are an Australian resident, permanent visa holder or Australian Citizen
and, meet the disability or early intervention requirements.
For those aged 65 years and over it is the case that in most situations you will be ineligible for the NDIS and will receive support through the federal government’s aged care system.
We welcome plan-managed, agency-managed, and self-managed participants within the NDIS. Feel free to contact us for more information on your type of plan and how we can help.
Find our services in the following regions: Sydney, Central Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
Even if we're not in your area yet, feel free to get in touch.
A dedicated member of our team will take the time to really listen.
How it works
We’ll visit your home to get to know you, your goals and your specific needs
We'll work with you to design your services
You'll be matched with a support worker, and your journey will begin