The effects of brain injury vary and can be complex. Putting the puzzle together is easier with the help of others. For this reason I’ve gathered pieces of information on this month’s support groups and therapy services offered in the Salt Lake Valley. I also included notes from last months meeting’s in case you missed it. Check out the upcoming events and mark your calendar for the BIAU Annual Conference. Also included are links to useful websites. If you have an activity, announcements or other information you’d like to share in this newsletter, please email Barbara@UnitingCaregivers.com.
FREE SUPPORT GROUPS AVAILABLE IN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY
June 7, 2017 – Aphasia Support Group at 7:00 p.m. Meets the 1st Tuesday monthly at Brookdale, 76 South 500 East, SLC, UT. (Parking in the rear of the building. Enter from 100 South.)
Topic: Vision Disorders and Treatment after a Stroke by Jennifer Thomas, OTR/L Occupational Therapist. For more information, please contact Christina Nessler (801) 582-1565, Extension 5379 or Kiera Berggren (801) 585-9717.
June 13, 2017– Brain Injury Alliance Support Group for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Meets every 2nd Tuesday monthly at Sanderson Community Deaf Center, 5709 South 1500 West, SLC, UT 84123. This is a social group where dinner is enjoyed together and then games played or crafts made. All caregivers and survivors are welcome. For more information call: Jennifer (801) 386-2195 or Beth (801) 585-5511.
June 15, 2017 – Caregivers and Survivors Education Group will meet separetly this month, 7-8 p.m. Meets every 3rd Thursday monthly at Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) 5171 S., Cottonwood St., Bldg. 1 Murray, UT 84107.
Caregivers Meet in the conference room on the 7th Floor. Topic: A Caregiver’s Button Box, Finding Ways to Recharge, Replenish and Refresh. Start thinking of the little things that bring you joy to be able to share with each other.
Our presenter, Kerrie Neu’s husband, Laurent, is a brain injury survivor from a motorcycle accident in 1998. Kerrie will share ideas on ways to recharge and nourish ourselves. Helpful insights come from nineteen years of experience as a caregiver and a mother of two children, who were small at the time of the accident. She works for Granite School District as the Dual Immersion Specialist, coordinating and coaching teachers in Spanish Immersion, and is working on her Master’s degree in Spanish Language Pedagogy (teaching methods).
Survivors Meet in the conference room on the 9th Floor. Topic: Fun in the Sun, presented by National Ability Center. Come learn what adaptive sports are available.
June 27, 2017 – University of Utah Brain Injury Support Group 7 p.m. Meets every 4th Tuesday monthly at Sugarhouse Health Center, 1138 E. Wilmington Avenue, SLC, UT 84106. Call Ryan Pello for questions at (801) 581-2221
FREE WEEKLY GROUPS
offered through
INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH CARE NEURO THERAPY SERVICES
Aphasia Talking Practice Group – Meets every Tuesday Noon-1 p.m. 5770 South 250 East #G50
Meditation Group – Meets every Wednesday 3 p.m. 5770 South 250 East Cafeteria Conference Room
Cognitive Skills Group – Meets every Thursday Noon-1 p.m. 5770 South 250 East #G50
Contact: Dr. Russo at antonietta.russo@imail.org
Epilepsy Groups for those affected by seizures.
Together we share coping strategies, provide encouragement, comfort and advice from people with common experiences. For more information contact Margo at (801)455-6089 or Utah@efa.org
June 1, 2017 – Epilepsy Group for Parents 7:00 p.m.-8:15 p.m. Meets every 1st Thursday of the month Riverton Library Auditorium 12877 S. 1830 W., Riverton, UT.
June 8, 2017 – Epilepsy Group for All Effected by Seizures 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) 5171 S. Cottonwood St., Bldg. 1, Ninth Floor, Murray, UT.
June 21, 2017 – Epilepsy Group for All Effected by Seizures 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month SLC Main Library 200 E. 400 S., SLC, UT (2nd floor conference room).
June 22, 2017 – Epilepsy Group for Women Only 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. Meets every 4th Thursday of the month SLC Main Library 200 E. 400 S. (3rd floor conference room)
June 28, 2017 – Epilepsy Group for Teens 7 p.m. Will meet the 4th Wednesday monthly at the West Jordan Library, 8030 So. 1825 W., West Jordan, UT. There will be two teachers overseeing this group. Come to enjoy an activity and meet other teens with epilepsy.
THE BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE SUPPORT GROUP for ADULTS MEETING NOTES
Sanderson Community Deaf Center located 5709 South 1500 West, Murray, UT 84107
Tuesday, May 9, 2017, we had a great time at the horse races with paper money. Thank you Jennifer Gee and Beth Cardell for doing a great job directing this group. For more information call Jennifer (801) 468-0027 or Beth (801) 585-5511.
Intermountain Medical Center 5171 S, Cottonwood St., Bldg. 1, Murray, UT 84107
SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS EDUCATION MEETING NOTES
Thursday, May 18, 2017, Matt Townsend gave an entertaining and poinent presentation on relationships.
We all want loyalty, happiness and honesty in a relationship. To feel joy and peace in a relationship we must feel:
- Safe – including physical, financial, mental, emotional, social and spiritual safety
- Trust – consisting of honesty and competence
- Appreciation- hearing or seeing words of approval (remember it takes four positives to ease one negative comment)
- Respect – showing through words and deeds
- Validate – hearing what is said to understand without having to agree
- Encourage – getting into the heart of your loved one and doing what you can to help them reach their goals
- Dedication – committing to your relationship and making them feel more important than any place or thing.
Matt said trauma or health issues are the number one way to expand in these areas. We don’t grow unless we are pushed. We learn through our challenges.
For a full synopsis of what I learned from Matt and a YouTube video, see my article, The Starved Relationship, or https://unitingcaregivers.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/the-starved-relationship
Dr. Matt Townsend has many podcast, YouTube videos and sponsors The Matt Townsend show on BYUradio. Entertaining insights on improving relationships for free. He’s also founder the the Townsend Relationship Center. For more information see Matt’s Website: http://matttownsend.com/
University of Utah Brain Injury Support Group located at Sugarhouse Health Center 1138 E. Wilmington Avenue, SLC, UT 84106.
Wednesday, May 23, 2017 topic was on the Benefits of Massage given by Molly Sullivan, LMT. Ryan Pello organizes this meeting. If you have questions by call (801) 581-2221.
BIAU Family & Professionals Annual Conference
Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
Time: 8am – 5pm
Place: Davis Conference Center, 1651 No. 700 W. Layton, UT 84041
USEFUL WEBSITES:
http://www.caregiver.org (online webinars for caregivers)
http://www.tbicommunity.org (online educational programs)
http://www.braininjury.com (medical, legal, information resource)
http://www.abta.org (brain tumor education and information)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi (brain injury facts, programs, education)
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/all-disorders (education for brain injury, stroke and other neurological disorders)
http://www.msktc.org/tbi (TBI Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center) national leaders in TBI research and patient care.
http://www.epilepsy.com/utah and/or http://www.epilepsy.com (seizure education and support by state or national)
https://biau.org (resource for those with brain injury)
http://www.brainline.org (preventing, treating and living with TBI)
Laptops http://www.brainline.org/abbymaslin (blog about loving and learning after TBI)
http://www.unitingcaregivers.wordpress.com (caregivers sharing 
stories, tips and thoughts)
http://www.facebook.com/UTteensupportgroup (social interaction and the exchange useful resources)
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