brain care matters

Brain Care MattersFall 2019 EDITION

Read about Dan’s journey on page 13

Brain Care Centre offers programs and services to adults (18+) who have sustained an acquired brain injury and their families.

Our region includes Edmonton and area as well as the communities along Highway 16 from

Stony Plain to Jasper with offices in Edmonton and Edson.

Brain Care Centre is a non-profit organization stemming from the merger of

NABIS (Northern Alberta Brain Injury Society) and EBIRS (Edmonton

Brain Injury Relearning Society).

It’s been an exiting summer here at Brain Care Centre as our program staff have been busy

finalizing the workshops and other offerings for our clients in the fall. This year, we’re excited

to be partnering with the Parkinson’s Association to run Healing Through Art and Return to

Cook out of the Buchanan Centre! Please contact a Brain Care Centre staff member if you’re

interested in learning more about these workshops.I’d also like

to say a big ‘thank you’ to our BCC Advisory Group members

for their insights and recommendations on what we can do to

best meet the needs of those we serve: Daralynn Swensrude,

Rawle Teekah, Kelsey Watt, and Tammy Cobbe. If you are a

current or former (less than one year) client or caregiver of

Brain Care Centre and are interested in joining the BCC Advisory

Group, please contact me at to find out more information.

Message from the Executive Director

#305 Hys Centre11010 101 StreetEdmonton, AB T5H 4B9

Phone: 780-477-7575Toll Free: 1-800-425-5552Fax:780-474-4415

Edson OfficeMailing address:Box 30105Edson, AB T7E 1Y2

Edmonton OfficeStreet address:4710-4th AvenueEdson, AB. T7E 1C6


[email protected] ext. 130

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Program Staff

CandiceService Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 124)[email protected]

DanielleService Coordinator, Edson780-477-7575 (ext. 220)[email protected]

ErinService Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 136)[email protected]

StephenService Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 122)[email protected]

TilynnService Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 113)[email protected]

SamanthaConcussion Program Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 116)[email protected] Coordinator, Edson780-477-7575 (ext. 210)[email protected]

TeresaCounsellor780-477-7575 (ext. 123)[email protected]

ConnieOccupational Therapist780-477-7575 (ext. 128)[email protected]

ErikProgram Assistant780-477-7575 (ext. 129)[email protected]

MarisaAssistive Device Training Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 125)[email protected]

CathyCounsellor780-477-7575 (ext. 119)[email protected]

ShamimOffice Coordinator780-477-7575 (ext. 110)[email protected]

Program Managers:Jean Roy: Support Program Manager, 780-477-7575 ext: 126, [email protected] Nicole Mitchell: Service Coordination & Intake Manager, 780-477-7575 ext: 133, [email protected]

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Support Services

Assistive Device Training: Provides training on use of electronic devices (phones, tablets, etc.) to improve daily living.

Occupational Therapy: Provides strategies to help clients return to activities of daily living.

Counselling: Clients, couples, and families can receive counselling sessions to adjust to life after brain injury.

Leisure Companion Program: Our clients are connected with volunteers who act as leisure companions to increase socialization and community participation.

CAPCC Program: Community Access for People in Continuing Care assists adults under the age of 65, living in long term care, to access and participate in their community. Currently only available in our Edson, Evansburg, Drayton Valley, Hinton, and Jasper regions.

Club Wellness: Monthly presentations on different topics of interest and community resources.

Support: Men’s, Women’s, Caregivers. Group members learn coping strategies, participate in activities, and support one another after brain injury.

Lifeskills Workshops: Education and skill development in a small group setting. See calendar for upcoming classes.

Service Coordination: Case management is provided to assist clients in identifying goals and connecting to resources. Available in both Edmonton and Edson offices.

Please see the calendar for more information on upcoming workshops and support groups. Contact your Service Coordinator for more information.

Groups

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Upcoming Lifeskill Classes

Healing through Art: In this 6 week class, you will use art to explore changes in emotions after brain injury.

Note: Both of these classes take place at the Buchanan Centre (11209-86 St).

Back to Cook: In this 4 week workshop, you will learn how to prepare simple meals that you can make at home.

Call your Service Coordinator to register!

Concussion Program

Designed for individuals who are still experiencing symptoms of concussion or mild traumatic brain injury beyond three months to five years. Services include counselling, occupational therapy, assistive device training, and a support group.

Concussion Support Group: 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 10:30 AM - 12 PM. Sign up to join!

Concussion Wellness: October 16th, 2019 6:00 - 7:15 PM Open to the public!

Public Education

Comprehensive and up-to-date information related to the effects of brain injury on individuals, families, and the community. Presentations include Brain Basics, Concussion Management, Brain Care Centre Services. Presentations can be tailored to the needs of the audience.

Brain Basics: October 2, 4 - 6 PM Bill Black AuditoriumGlenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

To access any of our public education services, please visit our website and submit an online form.

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New Treadmill!

If you’ve been in the Occupational Therapy

office lately, you may have noticed a new

addition! Thanks to a grant from the Edmonton

Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund

(ECECAF), we were able to purchase a treadmill

and heart rate monitor.

After a brain injury, walking and running can

be very tiring. This makes daily activities like

taking the bus, grocery shopping, or walking

pets extremely diffcult. Having a treadmill

will allow us to assess activity tolerance and

develop personalized exercise programs for

clients. Exercise is not only beneficial

for physical recovery after brain injury,

but also for mental health.

Thank you ECECAF for making this

possible!

There’s an App for That

Fotor is a free photo editing app that allows the user to

crop, remove red eye add stickers and deblurring of photos.

If you are looking to create a collage of the photos you love,

this app is an easy-to-use choice!

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2019 “Brain Matters” Charity Golf Tournment

The 7th Annual Brain Matters Charity Golf

Tournament took place on August 15, 2019,

at the Northern Bear Golf Course. The golfers

enjoyed a day of sunshine, fun, friendly

completion and an excellent meal. The golf

tournament raised approximately $42, 000.00.

Brain Care Centre would like to thank all of our sponsors, golfers, volunteers and staff

members for making this year’s golf tournament a wonderful success!

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Alberta Community & Social Services - Disability Policy and Supports Division; Alberta Health Services; Kara Mullin - American Bridge Canada; Nore Aldein Assiff - Assiff Law Office; ATCO Epic - Pipelines & Liquids; BAM / Old Scona Academic School BCC Youth Organization; Gregory Shimizu & Twilla MacLeod - Booming Tree Taiko; Ken Braithwaite - Braithwaite Boyle; Dr. Brian Rowe - Brian Rowe Professional Corporation; Dr. Bruce & Dr. Margaret Ritchie - Bruce Ritchie Professional Corporation; Canada Online Giving Foundation, Benevity Inc.; City of Edmonton, Community Services Department; Scott McBride - Construction & General Workers’ Union Local No.92; Josh Classen - CTV Edmonton; Cummings Andrews & Mackay LLP; Deb Kondysar - Duncan & Craig LLP; Brenda Waluk - Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund; Bob Clarke - Edmonton Eskimo Alumni Association; Betty Chmilar - Edmonton Minor Hockey Association; Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club; Edson Oilmen’s Golf Tournament; Employees’ Charitable Donations Fund, Royal Alex Hospital; Enbridge Pipelines Inc., Our Community Partners Program; Felesky Flynn LLP; Frances L. Zinger - Frances L. Zinger Professional Corporation; Mildred Ruth Hodgkinson - Generosity Incorporated; Government of Alberta, Alberta Finance; Don Sande - Groat Road Service (1976) Ltd.; Kenneth Edwards - HealthPointe Medical Centre Ltd; Giri Puligandla - Homeward Trust Foundation; I.U.O.E. Local No. 955; Mark Taylor - Imperial Oil Lubricants & Specialties; Dr. Donald Voaklander - Injury Prevention Centre (IPC); Kim Clegg - J K Clegg; James H. Brown - James H. Brown & Associates; Ryan Brosda - Maverick Inspection Ltd.; Kent H. Davidson Q.C. - Miller Thomson LLP; Carrie Doucette - Nurse Next Door; Earl Shindruk - Optimax Benefits; Jonathan Mitchell - RBC Dominion Securities; Reinette Café & Patisserie; Valerie Read - Remax Elite; Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation; Service Canada; Terri Isenor - Sherritt International Corporation; The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation; Karen & Tom – Plupek, Thomas E Plupek Profesional Corporation; Lanny Chudyk - Union 52 Benevolent Society; United Way of AB Capital Region; Casey Grant - Westmoreland Coal Company; Jeanette Puttick - Xtend Barre Charity Class; Shauna Ankers; Anonymous; Lyle Ayers; Barb Baer-Pillay; Bob and Ida Baer; Mrs. Joan A. Baer; Erika Biasini; Monique Bielech; Norma Boraas; Elsie Boychuk; Debbie Boyko; Patricia Bradley; Ashley & Ryan Brosda; Danja & Eli Bruce; Darlene & Robert Caldwell; Charles & Yolanda Campbell; Marilyn Caskey; Caroline Clark; Tracey Clark; John (Bob) R. & Denise Clarke; Dr. Greta & Dr. Garnet Cummings; Ronald Cummings; Suzette Currie;

Thank you to all thoseduring the 2018-19

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Christopher Davies; Bruce Deacon; Deborah J. Dover; Ann Drobot; David Duggan; Ronald Dunse; Harvey Ford; Donald & Barbara Gardner; Melanie Gaskin; Devanaiagee George; Susan Giles; Matthew Goold; George and Pauline Grabas; Susan Green; Matthew Gresiuk; Shirley & Roger Hall; Barbara Henderson; Christine Hirschi; Adolph & Alexis Hlushak; Ada M. Hole; Drs. Bob & Elly Holowaychuk; Bill & Heather Jellis; Soren & Louise Jensen; Kelly & Vance Johner; Moyra Johnson; Tonica Joseph-George; Anne-Marie Kallal; Sharon J. Kassian and William Novasky; Chung Yow & Kazao Kawata; William Kelly; Edgar Knobloch; Marni Kuhlmann; Margaret & Justin LaRocque; Russell & Louise Latawiec; Rob and Audrey Lee; Dr. James R. Lewis; Adolf Loeffler; Barbara Losier-Bhatnagar; Walter Lozinik; Sharlene Lutic; Jean MacKay; Stephen & Lynn Mandel; Lynne Mansell; Allison Marchand; Mufty & Bill Mathewson; Wendy Mathewson; June & Albert McDonald; Gordon & Agneta McKenzie; Jean McLeod; Annie Melnyk; Arlynn Miller; Colleen and Brad Mole; Dr. Julianna Nagy; Noordin Nanji; Jenna Nutting; John & Norma O’Connor; Esther S. Ondrack; Natasha Palichuk; Wesley Parsons; Carol & Patrick Perpeluk; Alex Perrault; Glen Perschbacher; Mary Ellen Plumite; Barbara Prodor; Gertrude Rabinovitz; Gioia Sallustio; Gaston Savoie; Barry M. Schloss; Kirsten Schmidt; Glen Schmude; John W. Shaw; Song Yuan (Sidney) Shi; Paige Simpson; Doris Skaret; Nadine Stack; Velma Sterenberg; Joe & Sophie Stockal; Dasha Tabler; Susan & Bill Taylor; James W. Tremain; Janine Tremblay; Adam Tuckwood; Maria Vicente; Janice Wilson; Susan Wirtanen; Cathy Wong; Lynda Grant & Corey Wynnyk; Elliot Ziniewicz;

Donations were made to honour:Thomas (Tim) Glenn Jarvis; Marg Kallal; Linda Myshaniuk; Michael Stack; Mandy Lee Taylor; Marie Wagner

Donations were made to BCC through the United Way by:Anonymous; Charles Campbell; Brian Geislinger; Garth Richard Grainger

For those who may have been missed in these acknowledgements, sincere apologies.

who made a donation or supported an eventfiscal year. You made our work possible!

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Brain Game: WINTER WORD SEARCH

BLIZZARDCOLDFROZEN HATICEMITTENSSNOWSNOWMAN

BOOTSFIREPLACEGIVINGHOLIDAYSICESKATESPINETREESNOWBALLSNOWSUIT

CHILLYFROSTYGLOVESHOTCHOCOLATEICICLESCARFSNOWFLAKEWIND

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Dan’s Journey After Concussion

Two and a half years ago, I was a passenger in a vehicle driving out in the backcountry. Trees

blocked the view of an adjacent road and we did not see a truck heading our direction. The

two vehicles collided in a T-bone fashion with such force that they both were ultimately

written off. At the point of impact, my head hit the passenger side window.

I did not lose consciousness, but immediately my speech was incoherent and my thoughts

felt very disorganized. In the aftermath, I was seen in the emergency room and in the

following months underwent physiotherapy.

A year after my accident, I was still struggling with

memory, thought processing, noise sensitivity,

headaches, dizziness and anxiety. I had been able

to return to my job as a Recreational Therapist,

but each day was a struggle. I didn’t realize how I’d

be treated differently after a head injury, or how

hard it would be to talk about the accident and my

recovery.

It was then that I became a client in Brain Care

Centre’s Concussion Program. I didn’t realize how much loss I’d had in my life since the

accident, and my counsellor at BCC really helped me process that. BCC’s Occupational

Therapist provided me with strategies for day-to-day activities that were still challenging,

and helped me accept that I may always have some impairments from the accident, but I can

rethink these to see them positively.

Today, I will admit that I am not fully recovered. I still have days when I struggle with

symptoms, and managing my workload. But I now have a deeper appreciation for how

precious everything is in my life, from the activities I enjoy doing, to my job and my family.

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Edson Office News

The Edson office has settled in it’s new location. Service Coordinators will continue to meet with clients, families, and professionals in the community for ease of access to services.

The Brain Care Centre Edson Region is excited to welcome Danielle Koroll into the role of Service & CAPCC Coordinator!

Please contact the Edson office if you have any questions or for more information.

Mailing address:Box 30105Edson, AB T7E 1Y2

Street address:

4710-4th Avenue (NEW LOCATION)Edson, AB. T7E 1C6


Upcoming Support GroupsEdson: October 2, 16; November 6, 20; December 4, 18

Drayton Valley: Octboer 7, 21; November 4, 18; December 2, 16

Please be advised that the Edson office will be closed from December 20, 2019 to January 1, 2020. Have a safe and happy holidays from the Edson office!

Supporting BCC’s Concussion Program

Our Concussion Program is provided at no cost to those who access it, and is currently supported by limted grant funding.

If you would like to support clients like Dan, please consider making a donation or joining our monthly donor program. Our waitlist is approximately 6-8 months long, as we only have capacity to admit between 2 and 4 new clients per month.

For more information on how to donate, please visit our website at www.braincarecentre.com or contact 780-477-7575 ext 110 and speak with Shamim.

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Holiday Resources

Please note that Brain Care Centre will closed over the holidays from December 20, 2019 until January 1, 2020. The office will reopen on January 2, 2020.If you require assistance, support, or information over the holiday period, please contact one of the community resources below.Distress Line 24-hour helpline that is available to anyone who needs someone to talk to and to gain some support. 780-482-HELP (4357) Canadian Mental Health Association Offers free walk-in counselling. 780-414-6300 #400, 10025-106 Street www.edmonton.cmha.caThe Family Centre of Northern Alberta Offers free drop-in single session counselling as well as workshops for parents, couples, and individuals 780-423-2831 #20, 9912-106 Street NW www.the-family-centre.comMomentum Walk-In CounsellingA non-profit, walk-in agency providing support and guidance to people in need of counselling services. 780-757-0900 Suite 200, 9562-82 Avenue www.momentumcounselling.org211 24-hour information and referral line that helps people connect to social, health, and government services. www.ab.211.ca

1 cup butter, softened ¾ cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oven to 350° F. In large bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar and vanilla with spoon.

Stir in flour. (If dough is crumbly, mix in 1 to 2 tbsp butter or margarine, softened.)

Roll dough 1/2 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into small shapes by hand or use cookie cutters. Place 1/2 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until set and bottoms are light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to rack. Cool for 30 minutes.

Shortbread Cookies

Brain Care Centre Holiday Wishlist!If you want to help ensure our office is able to provide the best possible service to

those we serve or want to provide a gesture of thanks this holiday season, here are

some of our most wished for items:

• Art supplies for our counselling workshops and support groups

• Phone grip & stand’s (PopSockets) for clients’ personal devices

• Notebooks or pocket-sized daytimers for Memory & Attention workshop

• GIft cards to help us purchase items for our programs and day-to-day activities:

Amazon, Costco, Dollarama, Wal-Mart are all places we frequent!

Brain Care Centre wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season!

FREE CONSULTATION: 780-428-0088 | 1-800-616-0088

WE GET RESULTS!

www.JamesHBrown.com2400 Sun Life Place | 10123 99 Street | Edmonton, AB

We handle all claims involving serious injury or loss of life

In addition to Alberta’s leading spinal cord and brain injury settlements our legal team has established precedents in cases involving brain injury, whiplash, chronic pain, TMJ injury, and fibromyalgia.

We Proudly Support:

Canadian Publication Agreement # 40043209Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Brain Care Centre #305 11010 101 St Edmonton, AB T5H 4B9

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