Mothers going through the rehabilitation process often face unique challenges while balancing their recovery and the demands of parenting. As a Personal Support Worker (PSW), you play a critical role in helping these women navigate daily life by providing essential support that enhances their independence, reduces stress, and ensures their children are cared for in a stable, nurturing environment.
Here’s how you can effectively support moms with brain injuries:
1. Establish and Maintain a Routine
Brain injuries can impact memory, executive functioning, and emotional regulation, making structure and consistency incredibly valuable. Help the mom establish a predictable daily routine that includes:
- Meal times
- Medication reminders
- Exercise or rehab sessions
- School drop-offs/pickups (if applicable and pre-approved)
- Household tasks
Having a routine in place not only supports her cognitive recovery but also helps children feel safe and secure. Even when supporting in a non-parenting role, understanding and aligning with the family’s rhythm can make your help more seamless and meaningful.
2. Offer Relief Through Practical Household Support
Many moms going through rehabilitation are juggling a high volume of medical, rehabilitation, and therapy appointments. This leaves little time and energy for maintaining a safe and healthy living environment. Focus your support on tasks that offer tangible relief:
- Meal preparation or planning
- Laundry and tidying
- Cleaning common areas
- Supporting exercise programs prescribed by a therapist
- Organizing and preparing for appointments (e.g., packing bags, paperwork, etc.)
These services allow the mom to preserve her energy for parenting and other activities that she needs to do.
3. Respect Parenting Preferences
It’s important to recognize that every mom is different in how much help she wants when it comes to her children. Some may need hands-on support with childcare tasks, while others may prefer to do all of the parenting themselves.
Always clarify the mom’s expectations from the start and review them regularly with your supervising team. For moms who prefer to parent independently, your role may be to create time and space by handling peripheral responsibilities like:
- Cooking meals for the family
- Organizing the home
- Support in the community/ with errands
- Assisting with home exercise programs
This lets her focus on parenting while knowing the other pieces are taken care of.
4. Be a Consistent and Reliable Presence
Children form attachments quickly, and when PSWs frequently change, it can create instability. It’s essential to remain consistent, especially in homes with young children. Being dependable and steady support worker helps build trust with the entire family.
Whenever possible, avoid sudden schedule changes and communicate any shifts with as much notice as possible. Reliability shows respect for both the mom and her children.
5. Work as Part of a Team
You are one member of a larger circle of care, which may include occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, and more. Stay informed by:
- Following care plans
- Communicating with supervising professionals
- Tracking completed tasks and reporting observations as required
If something seems off—whether it’s a change in mood, increased fatigue, or challenges with routines—flag it to your supervisor or care coordinator so the right professionals can step in.
Final Thoughts
Your role as a PSW is essential in helping moms going through rehabilitation live safely, parent meaningfully, and recover steadily. By focusing on structure, support, consistency, and collaboration, you help create a stable environment where both the mom and her children can thrive.
Remember: the best support you can provide is the kind that empowers the mom to do what she wants to do—whether that’s parenting, recovering, or both.