Is the “Family Glass Cabin” Useful to Safely Allow Inpatient–Caregiver Interaction in the COVID-19 Era? A Pilot Study on Severe Acquired Brain Injury

Abstract

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a life-changing event that can have a devastating impact on all aspects of a person’s functioning. Patients with ABI present several behavioral problems that have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed at investigating the role of a “Family Glass Cabin” (FGC) both in improving cognitive function and communicative abilities of people with ABI and in potentiating the mental health of their caregivers. Fifteen subjects affected by ABI and their caregivers were enrolled in this experimental study. Training was performed through the FGC and was based on either psychoeducational sessions for the caregivers or cognitive stimulations for the patients. The participants attended biweekly meetings for 12 consecutive weeks. Each participant was assessed by means of a complete psychometric and clinical battery, before (T0) and after (T1) the training. We found significant changes in all patients’ outcomes, including global cognitive function and communication abilities (p < 0.01), as well as an improvement in caregivers’ well-being. Our data suggest that the physical presence of the caregiver in the rehabilitation setting, using a safe setting such as the FGC, can be a valuable means to increase ABI patients’ functional recovery and reduce caregivers’ anxiety and emotional burden.

Neurophysiological and Psychometric Outcomes in Minimal Consciousness State after Advanced Audio–Video Emotional Stimulation: A Retrospective Study

“…In addition, caregivers were supported by the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team during the whole rehabilitation process. This may also explain the improvements in the psychological status of caregivers, since they had an active participation in the care and decision-making processes, as demonstrated by our previous research [57,61].…”

Psycho-Emotional Well-Being in Caregivers of People with Acquired Brain Injury: An Exploratory Study on the Human Immersion Model during the Omicron Wave

“…Unfortunately, we did not investigate patient outcomes since the paper was focused on the caregivers. Given that our previous study showed improvements in the ABI individual’s functional outcomes, even if the presence of the caregiver was mediated by a “family cabin glass” [ 14 ], we may argue that the HIM could also improve such outcomes. Consequently, clinicians should consider the importance of the compliance and participation of caregivers during rehabilitation sessions in order to educate the family on how to functionally take care of their loved ones [ 39 ].…”

“…In this context, technology has helped ABI patients as the use of pc-based tools [ 14 ] and teleinterventions was considered as a useful and complementary treatment to overcome distance and isolation during the first lockdown. Moreover, another study found that the use of a “family glass cabin” was useful to increase the interaction between ABI people and their caregivers.…”

Humanistic care relieves mental distress of inpatients in the shelter hospital during COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai: a cross-sectional observational study

“…The family cabin is both beneficial to inpatients and their family members. The physical presence of the caregiver in the rehabilitation setting of family glass cabin was reported to not only increases acute brain injury patients’ functional recovery, but also reduces caregivers’ anxiety and emotional burden ( 9 ).…”