Frequently Asked Questions

What is a brain injury?
A brain injury (often called an acquired brain injury or ABI) is an injury to the brain that is caused by a traumatic or non-traumatic event. It may affect how a person moves, thinks, feels, and behaves. A brain injury can be caused by a fall (down the stairs, off a ladder), a car accident, bleeding in the brain, oxygen being cut off to the brain, or removal of a brain tumour.

Where will I receive my care?
Services for individuals with brain injury are provided at two Toronto Rehab facilities: University Centre and Rumsey Centre. University Centre offers both inpatient and outpatient services. Rumsey Centre provides only outpatient services.

Why are the doors to the hallways on the Brain Injury Unit locked?
The doors leading to the hallways from the Brain Injury Unit have a numeric keypad that requires a special code to unlock the doors. Many of the patients that stay on this floor have trouble keeping track of where they are, where they are going, or how to get back. The doors are locked for their safety.

Once the occupational therapist determines that the patient can find his/her way to and from the 4th floor, he/she will be given the code. As a rule, the code is not given out within the first 24 hours of admission. Patients are asked not to share the code with others.

How long can I expect to be here?
Inpatients generally spend four to six weeks if they are receiving neuro cognitive rehabilitation or six to eight weeks if they are receiving neuro physical rehabilitation.

Home visits are often encouraged since they allow you to practice the skills you are learning at the hospital. Your occupational therapist may assess your home to provide recommendations for safety and independence (i.e., shower chair and ramps). Please talk to your team members for more information about day and weekend passes. Generally, weekend passes are not allowed the first weekend of your admission to the hospital.

Outpatient treatment lengths vary depending on each individual's specific goals and needs.

How do you help individuals continue to improve once they are discharged?

We educate individuals and their families on how to maintain their gains and continue improving on their own at home. Many of our inpatients also continue therapy on an outpatient basis at Toronto Rehab, or elsewhere.

Before people are discharged, our team ensures that patients have the proper supports at home and in the community. If necessary, staff will also conduct home visits to make recommendations and to determine if physical modifications need to be made. Individuals often go home first on a weekend pass.

All patients return for medical follow-up four to six weeks following discharge from an inpatient unit.