Sponsoring our Local Government & Social Housing Seminar this year, TRU, a specialist rehabilitation facility for people with acquired brain injury, tells us what they do

November 20, 2017

TRU is a specialist rehabilitation facility for people who have an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). TRU operate within both residential rehabilitation units and community outreach to provide a full pathway of active rehabilitation, pre-community re-entry, supported living and community reintegration and sheltered vocational placements. This year, TRU is sponsoring Exchange Chambers’ Local Government & Social Housing Seminar 2017.

For over 25 years, TRU has continued to develop its rehabilitation expertise and opportunities for adults with acquired brain injury. More recently, the expansion of TRU’s structured pathway provides for those detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA) we are delighted that this has achieve similar success as our other transitional units along the TRU pathway.

Over the past 5 years, 80% of those admitted to TRU’s ABI Hospital under the Mental Health Act, the majority of whom had been detained for many years, did not require a MHA section within 8 months of admission to TRU. Thereafter, the majority of this service user group progressed along TRU’s rehabilitation pathway improving their independence, psychological stability, and social integration. Gary’s story is an example.

Gary’s Story

Gary suffered his first brain injury aged 13 years but completed school and a range of other courses, especially information technology. Gary later sustained a second brain injury at the age of 27 years. Prior to being admitted to TRU, Gary had spent over 10 years in a number of inpatient facilities sectioned under the Mental Health Act; primarily due to aggressive behaviour and paranoid ideation. His problems were underpinned by a complex array of neuropsychological difficulties he suffered due to the brain injury and this had culminated in deterioration in his mental health. He had a range of cognitive impairments including memory, attention and executive functioning. He also reported high levels of fatigue and apathy/helplessness.

Just over 18 months after admission to TRU, Gary is preparing to enter the community and his own accommodation through TRU’s graded residential, vocational and social pathways having developed self-management, emotional adjustment and cognitive coping systems. The result is Gary’s much improved quality of life, without the need for the MHA and with dramatically reduced care and treatment costs.

Whilst early rehabilitation is preferable, TRU’s rehabilitation services have demonstrated that rehabilitation is still possible very many years after brain injury.

Visit TRU’s website here.