Navigating Home

Anyone can live at home, no matter the significance of disability. Three critical components to make that happen are significant social support, advocacy and resources. Thankfully Kansas has been a forward thinking state in this regard for many years. They have even passed laws making it a right to live at home and not in a facility. The recently designed KanCare system has not changed the constellation of services available, just how you access them. 

When a significant incident happens forcing you to rely on disability or public assistance, you are forced to deal with the daunting medical issues and decisions while being expected to figure out how to traverse the many steps to get home. The first step in the process is applying for disability. Below is a chart that was developed between Stormont Vail Hospital and Minds Matter LLC to help people navigate the disability and eligibility maze. This is a necessary step in the process to get in home services and supports after brain injury. If you are starting this process from the hospital, the social worker can help you get started. If you are starting this process from another place, like a rehab facility, nursing home, or from home, you can utilize Minds Matter LLC to get started. 

The steps to getting on the Traumatic Brain Injury waiver in Kansas. 

Here are some tips that have worked for others: 

• Know that there will be many stops and starts along the way and be ready to advocate for what you and your family need. 
• Keep a notebook with all names, numbers and conversations. 
• Call, email and follow up with every resource you can find. 
• Don't take no as the final answer. 
• Celebrate the successes. Every time you move over another hurdle, celebrate. 
• Move on from defeat quickly and take another avenue. 
• Identify a role for everyone in your network and check in frequently. For example, if someone is great with the medical system, have that person be the advocate and interpreter with medical professionals. If someone else is great at communicating, have them use social media to keep people posted on progress and how they can help. 
• Find other families who have navigated the way home. Ask the social worker, reach out via social media or call your local Brain Injury Association to ask for the names of other families who have made it home. 
• Never give up. There are many roads home. 

Feel free to give us a call to help you navigate through the system. We will not do it for you, but we will help you with next steps and tips on what has worked for others. Check out our website at www.mindsmatterllc.com or give us a call at (866) 429-6757 to ask someone well versed in this process for help.