Validate, Inform, Provide

Components of ‘VIP’ treatment for individuals aging with a brain injury

By Camille Haslinger, CCC-SLP

As a speech therapist, parents often ask me for information about developmental milestones, or the skills that are typically acquired during specific periods of a child’s development. Given that my clients range in age from 3 to 85 years old, I often think about the amount of information that is available about what to expect as children become older, yet there is no guidebook for what to expect when a loved one experiences a brain injury. Although we do not have milestones for what to expect as individuals with a brain injury become older, we can establish cornerstones for how we communicate with them through validating, informing, and providing them with resources to help them achieve their highest quality of life.

As individuals with a brain injury become older, we may see a decrease in their orientation to the present time and place, ongoing changes to their working memory, and difficulty comprehending information, particularly if it involves changes to their routine. In an effort to combat these changes, I often see well-meaning family or caregivers attempt to correct a person’s error with regard to names, dates, or details of events. However, we know that this often increases anxiety and frustration, making people less likely to engage in future conversations. Validation is the alternative to correction that allows folks to feel heard, understood, and valued as a communication partner. The adage that “knowledge is power” becomes increasingly important as individuals age and their abilities change. In order to ensure a person feels competent despite changes in cognition, family and caregivers should aim to share information in a neutral way rather than pressing the person for details. If the individual makes an error but maintains active engagement in the conversation, keep it going.

As an individual’s abilities change, their roles are likely to shift as well. For example, those who found purpose in their role as providers may find themselves requiring assistance, and that adjustment can be incredibly difficult. As the professionals who see them through various stages of change, it is our responsibility to provide opportunities for connection (e.g., support groups) and resources for assistance (e.g., financial assistance, housing modifications). When we cannot directly provide these services, we can provide access to information; access is an opportunity.

For our clients who are aging with a brain injury, the “VIP” treatment does not involve backstage passes, limousines, or free trips to exotic locations, but capitalizes on increasing the agency and confidence necessary to experience the life of fulfillment they all deserve.

Camille Haslinger, CCC-SLP, is the Department Head of Speech-Language Pathology at Life Skills Village in Oak Park, Mich.