Page 32 - BusinessWest May 16, 2022

abilities.
Cust and Bugeau demonstrated a Bioness
H200 a device that fits on the forearm and is used to simulate normal wrist and finger movement for neuromuscular rehabilitation. By using a tablet,
a therapist controls the H200 to aid the patient in opening and closing their hand. It’s also used to help build back wrist and hand muscles through repeated movements.
“People with brain injuries need someone to encourage them to get up and move, otherwise they will just sit and do nothing.”
The goal of the therapists at Encompass is for patients to return home. Before patients are dis- charged, they leave with a recovery plan to help the patient going forward. A case manager gets involved to prepare the family and prepare the home before discharge. In many cases the patient will need outpatient treatment, whether at a facil- ity or at home. Encompass puts patients and fam- ilies in touch with community resources to keep moving toward recovery goals.
Finding a New Way
As late as the 2010s, patients with brain inju- ries in Massachusetts who required care beyond what they could get at home were mandated to live in nursing homes. A class-action suit resulted in creating two waivers, one for ABI and one
known as a Moving Forward Plan (MFP) waiver. Both waivers make it possible for other organi- zations in the community to provide long-term treatment for people suffering from brain injuries.
Mental Health Association (MHA) created
the New Way Services Division to specifically offer treatment for people with ABI. The agency owns nine houses located in communities in and around Springfield. Each residence looks like a typical family home and accommodates up to four adults.
“These residences are the person’s home for as long as they need it to be,” said Sara Kyser, vice president of the New Way Services Division at MHA. “While some folks are likely to spend the rest of their days there, we also have many people who gradually need fewer services and they are able to return to their families.”
Each person has an individualized treatment plan, most of which include regular visits from occupational, physical, and speech therapists. Nurses also visit each home to assist with such things as re-learning taking medication and other tasks. One of the homes is designed to be a transi- tion step where instead of receiving highly inten- sive support the person is more on their own but still has a safety net.
“The goal is to bring people back to where they were or to a less-restricted setting,” Kyser said. “When possible, they can return to their family and still access outreach supports.”
One of those supports is The Resource Cen- ter (TRC) run by MHA. Serving as a day service, Kyser explained that this is where people can
Brain
Continued on page 42
Lexi Stockwell says the Strive Clinic at ServiceNet helps those with brain injuries continue to make progress in their recovery.
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