Brain and Spinal Injury Support

Our quality, personalised brain injury and spinal injury support care can work alongside people to face these challenges head on and meet their individual goals and aspirations. The right support can remove obstacles, break down barriers, and empower people to take back control—at HealthCare NZ, we’ve made it our mission to provide it.

The impacts of brain and spinal injuries and benefits of support

Brain injuries and spinal cord injuries can have a wide variety of symptoms, affecting people in many different ways. Here are a few of the common broad categories of long-term impacts experienced by individuals who require brain and spinal injury support:

Pain: Chronic pain is a common long term effect of either type of injury, requiring specialised pain management and support.

Physical impairment: Spine and spinal cord injuries in particular can result in physical impairments which might range from loss of sensation to paralysis.

Cognitive impairment: Brain injuries may affect cognition to varying degrees.

Loss of control of bodily functions: Losing fine motor control and control over bladder or bowel functions can mean that specialised help with daily tasks is required.

Emotional and behavioural changes: Emotional and behavioural symptoms can follow a brain or spinal injury.

The symptoms and challenges presented by any individual case of brain or spinal injury will always differ from person to person. Tailored care is so important for recovery, effective rehabilitation, and also better mental health. It can help people to get back to doing the things that are important to them.

The range of spinal injuries

Any spinal cord injury is very much cause for concern: the spine and cord are both so integral to how a person functions. Each case is unique and recovery and rehabilitation will be a different journey for every person. Spinal injuries are classified by either the extent of the injury and/or its location.

Complete vs incomplete

Complete: A complete spinal injury occurs when the spinal cord is either fully severed or ruptured. The damage from a complete spinal cord injury is permanent.

Incomplete: An incomplete spinal injury is one in which the spinal cord is only partially damaged. In cases of incomplete spinal injuries, the damage may not be permanent.

Location of injury

Sacral: This refers to the lower back (S1-S5 vertebrae). Here, the vertebrae are fused together and nerves control function and sensation in the pelvis and lower body.

Lumbar: This is the middle-lower back (L1-L5 vertebrae), with strong vertebrae which support the body’s weight. The lower body is connected to the central nervous system here.

Thoracic: This is the upper-middle back (T1-T12 vertebrae), where critical nerves transmit signals from the spinal cord to other parts of the body.

Cervical: This is the upper spine (C1-C7 vertebrae). This part of the spinal cord is important to upper body function.

These factors are are important to the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing rehabilitation. However, even very similar injuries can have diverse effects each person, requiring specialised and tailored spine injury support.

The range of brain injuries

The brain is the command centre of the body, and this means that brain injuries can have widespread effects on how a person functions day to day. Some common types of brain injuries include:

Acquired brain injuries: This refers to any damage or injury to the brain that has been acquired at any time since birth. Many of the following types of brain injury can also be classified as acquired.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): These are caused by traumatic events. This could include falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, or any other kind of physical trauma. They can be further classified as mild, moderate, or severe.

Hypoxic brain injuries: These occur when damage is caused to the brain due to a lack of oxygen for a prolonged period. They can be caused by restriction of breath, cardiac events, or by extreme blood loss, as this reduces oxygenated blood to the brain.

Concussion: This is a relatively mild brain injury caused by a blow or knock to the head. People with concussion can recover within a few days or weeks, although some can have longer-term effects.

Clearly, these categories can overlap! Each brain injury is unique and requires bespoke support. Traumatic brain injury support will differ from concussion treatment, but even within each type there will be a wide variety of symptoms and challenges to address.

The prevalence of brain and spinal injuries underline the need for specialised care to minimise impacts both to the individual and the nation as a whole. A recent AUT study found that around 35,000 New Zealanders experience mild TBIs each year, and the knock-on effect of this is around $600 million in lost earnings annually.

Brain and spinal injury care: how does it work?

Our in-home support services are designed to meet the unique needs of each person. In the case of brain and spinal injuries, there may be a wide range of challenges that each person might experience.

To find out more about what you require, the initial process for spinal and brain injury support services will look like this:

• You receive a referral to our services from a medical provider, ACC, or you can enquire privately.
• An initial meeting is arranged with you, any support people you choose to include, and HealthCare NZ team members to discuss what support you need to meet your rehabilitation goals and aspirations.
• Together, we develop your tailored support plan.
• Your support commences—with frequent communication along the way to ensure your changing needs continue to be met.

HealthCare NZ has a wide range of support workers, Nurses, and allied health specialists who can provide support in the comfort of your own home. Our skilled team members and comprehensive services aim to ensure that you have access to support that really helps. Get in touch and let us know how we can help.

Why is it important to treat brain and spinal injuries?

A good recovery outcome for a brain or spinal injury is dependent on both the type of injury and the treatment received. Any kind of damage to these complex and crucial parts of the body can have far-reaching impacts, so ongoing rehabilitation and support are key.

Additionally, symptoms of brain or spinal injuries can remain hidden or manifest at a later date. This is why it’s essential for anyone who has sustained even a mild brain or spinal injury to receive immediate medical attention. Early intervention can prevent further damage and present the best chance of recovery.

The first course of action after sustaining a brain or spinal cord injury should always be to seek medical treatment—from there, our in-home rehabilitation options can provide the support you need to recover, rehabilitate, and meet your goals and aspirations.

Choosing HealthCare NZ’s brain and spinal care services

As New Zealand’s largest in-home and community healthcare provider, we draw from a deep pool of experience and talent when it comes to providing the brain and spinal injury care services. These are a few foundational aspects of our services which help us to achieve our goal of providing the very best life-enhancing care:

Bespoke and responsive: Our support is designed around your individual rehabilitation goals. unique needs and challenges. We also understand that your support and goals will change over time—we’ll stay in close communication so that we can adjust accordingly.

Compassionate and respectful: HealthCare NZ’s brain and spinal injury support is delivered with compassion, respect, and empathy. Our aim is to work alongside each person, supporting them to achieve their individual rehabilitation goals and aspirations.

Comprehensive and holistic: Brain and spinal injury rehabilitation and support should be about the whole person. Physical health is important—so are the emotional, social, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person’s life. Our team understands this and takes a holistic approach to support services.

Built on these foundations, our brain and spine injury care services provide a trusted solution for people across New Zealand. Get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you or your whānau.

Spinal and brain injury care FAQs

How long do brain and spinal injuries take to heal?

There is no way to put a definitive timeline on recovery from these injuries; each case is individual. Some come with life-long effects, while others may have a short recovery period.

What can you do to heal a brain injury?

Some brain injuries might require surgical intervention—in other cases, time is the only thing that will promote healing or recovery. In general, medications and rehabilitation programmes are key to improved independence.

What is a TBI?

TBI stands for traumatic brain injury, a brain injury caused by physical trauma.

What kind of support can be provided to someone with a brain or spinal injury?

People who have sustained a brain or spinal injury may require a wide range of support to meet their rehabilitation goals. Our team is here and ready to work alongside you to achieve this.

Can I get financial support for brain or spinal injury care?

Your GP, healthcare professional, NASC, Services Connector or ACC Coordinator may be able to provide a referral for funding. Alternatively, get in touch with our team and discuss your options.