Interdisciplinary rehabilitation for the transition out of homelessness with a traumatic brain injury

Abstract

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face higher rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is associated with greater unmet healthcare and social needs and increased difficulty transitioning out of homelessness. While efforts have emerged to address this TBI disparity via screening, staff training and case management, gaps exist in the delivery of evidence-based TBI rehabilitation to PEH. This case report describes the delivery of interdisciplinary TBI rehabilitation to a male patient experiencing homelessness within a US context. Physical medicine and rehabilitation and occupational therapy focused on managing cognitive and chronic pain symptoms to improve daily life function across community settings (ie, outdoors, shelter, the transition to stable housing). After 4 months, the patient demonstrated improved daily life function with changes in objective measurements and housing status from unsheltered homelessness to housed. This case demonstrates the feasibility of delivering equitable TBI rehabilitation to PEH to mitigate health and housing disparities.