Finding Purpose After Injury

On With Life is passionate about helping persons served get ‘on with life,’ which is why all programs incorporate finding purpose into their care. Samantha Braune, Residential Services Manager, discusses how this looks within On With Life’s unique Residential Neuro Rehabilitation program.

How would you describe the concept of 'finding purpose'?

After brain injury, some individuals feel a loss of identity or grieve the life they had prior to brain injury. The concept of “finding purpose” through our Residential Neuro Rehabilitation program is the idea that, while participating in the program, we provide support, strategies and encouragement to facilitate modification of or return to life roles. You can see this concept explored and carried out through all of On With Life’s programs and can look very different from person to person. At the house, “finding purpose” is explored in a home and community-based setting that allows persons served to experience real life scenarios while obtaining support from our team members. A collaborative effort is made by all other On With Life programs to engage each person served in returning to their life roles and find their “purpose.”

How is On With Life's residential neuro rehabilitation program unique in accomplishing the goal of 'finding purpose'?

This program is unique in many ways but the program itself is designed to provide home and community-based rehabilitation to facilitate transition to a more independent living situation. Individuals each have their own conceptualization of what life should look like after their injury. In some cases it’s the desire to return to independent living, working, driving, parenting, etc. On occasion, an individual may find an entirely new calling or purpose they didn’t have prior to their injury. These are some of the roles that can engage and drive individuals through their rehabilitation journey. This program provides individuals who want and/ or need an intermediate rehabilitation step additional time to return to their home and community, and explore different ways to accomplish their goals. Providing assistance with volunteering, home and community-based goals, return to work efforts, engaging with their support systems, and trying to help persons served navigate through their personal journey, are among some of the ways we help persons served progress and achieve their goals.