1. Pocket Calendar for appointments--1, 2, or 3 (one for you, for in the house or one for caregiver to keep up with your busy schedule).
Put Wall Calendars in the house to remind you the day & month.
Record daily activities reminding you of what you did yesterday & ideas for tomorrow. TBI days & months can run together causing you to lose time. Get a notebook, calendar or monthly planner.
Menus are great for eating healthy & saving money--planning ahead. Keep your menus in a special folder/notebook & alternate the same meals every few months…it takes the frustration of being overwhelmed when meal time comes around.
2. Get a notebook or section off your menu book. to write your thoughts & goals. STRIVE to be positive, to accomplish a task every day & mentor another Brain Injured person.
3. Income tax deductions should be kept on file for the next year. Get new medication prescriptions, letters, or statements from all the doctor for over-the-counter needs, therapies, parking to doctors for each year!
4. Check your pill container condition you want a container that doesn’t loss your meds.
5. Check your watch or good condition to remind you the day or month to take your medication.
6. Make appointments. GO TO THE DOCTOR AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR for current diagnosis.
7. Contact local police & fire dept. so they know you will need assistance in times of emergencies.
8. Contact local social groups for group activities & socialization.
9. Take your caregiver out to the movies or dinner to say thank you for caring.
10.Update books/materials used during down time. All should be age appropriate.
11. Update phones for instant dialing of emergency numbers/contact people (see phone book for easy instructions).
12. Contact voter registration with name or address changes. Contact if absentee voting is needed.
13. Contact your utility companies in advance if you need disaster assistance.
14. Make appointments with vet for companion animal. Your animal can be your life saver.
15. Notify insurance companies of any changes.
16. Update Medicare of health changes.
17. Update auto repairs for the year. Don‘t be caught off guard in emergencies.
18. Sign language is helpful to you or others when the verbal skills are difficult (emergency words like pills, doctor, hospital).
19. Send in this year’s dues to BIA! (Brain Injury Assoc. of Indiana) for the latest Brain Injury Information.
20. Strive to attend the Brain Injury Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, held at the end of summer or beginning of fall (check for exact dates in the Newsletter).
21. Attend Monthly BIA Support Groups meetings -share ideas, join a committee, or submit articles to the newsletter.
22. Copy the Newsletter for your Dr.’s waiting room & local hospital so others learn about Traumatic Brain Injury. #