Many of our centers provide care to residents with a diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) however many of us treat behaviors/symptoms but know little about the diagnosis. Have you ever considered the effects of concussion, also considered a TBI, on long-term outcomes? Think about it, have you ever experienced a fall, hit your head, watched your child or grandchild fall while ice skating? Any one of these can result in a concussion injury that goes undetected, right?

Well, to add insult to injury, a recent study published in TRACK-TBI, found that poor 1-year cognitive outcome was not uncommon. Why, you ask? There could be direct damage to parts of the brain subserving cognitive function or secondary effects of concussion-related depression such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep problems.

What does all of this mean to us? Think about our residents who experience a fall. Remember, the head doesn’t need to touch the floor to cause a concussion, the sudden impact of falling can cause injury to the brain. What we need to consider is what impact each fall potentially has on the cognitive status of our residents. Don’t give up on fall prevention strategies, keep members of the team focused on identifying risks and initiating interventions. Remember, each and every fall can cause irreversible brain injury in our residents. Stay the course, stay informed, and stay well!