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Signs a Loved One with a Brain Injury Needs More Support at Home
After a brain injury, changes at home are often gradual. A missed bill here, a skipped medication there, a short temper that was not there before. Families in Brooklyn and Queens often ask us when those changes mean it is time for more structured support. Here are the signs worth paying attention to, and what the TBI waiver can do about them.
Everyday signs families notice
- Medications are missed or doubled up.
- Bills, mail or appointments pile up unanswered.
- Your loved one avoids going out alone, or gets lost on familiar routes.
- Cooking or basic household tasks have stopped, or have become unsafe.
- Frustration, outbursts or impulsive decisions are causing problems with family, neighbors or a landlord.
- The family caregiver is exhausted and covering more each week.
Why these signs matter
Each of these is a skill or a support that can be worked on. Waiver services are not just about safety checks; they are about rebuilding independence. Independent Living Skills Training practices the real tasks in the real home. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports gives the whole household a consistent plan for difficult moments. Community Integration Counseling helps the person adjust to life after the injury.
Write it down before you call
Before you contact a provider or the Regional Resource Development Center, spend a week noting what you see: dates, what happened, and what helped. Include the hospital where the injury was treated and any current doctors. That record makes the eligibility review and the first service-plan meeting far more productive.
Next steps
- Confirm your loved one has active Medicaid, or start the application.
- Talk to their doctor about the changes you are seeing.
- Contact a TBI waiver provider or the NYC RRDC to ask about eligibility.
A note on NHTD: New York State is not accepting most new NHTD referrals right now, and limited openings are released through the Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC). If your family member is already in the NHTD waiver, you can choose or switch providers. If they are new and have a brain injury, the TBI waiver is usually the place to start.
Where Priority Cares fits: in New York City (all five boroughs) Priority Cares Home Services is approved by the NYS Department of Health for the NHTD and TBI waivers: Service Coordination, Independent Living Skills Training (ILST), Community Integration Counseling (CIC) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). On Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk) we are approved for NHTD Community Integration Counseling only. Other waiver-funded services, such as aide hours or home modifications, come from other approved providers that your service coordinator lines up.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please talk with your doctor or care team about your own situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these signs a diagnosis?
No. They are things families commonly notice. A doctor or the person’s care team should evaluate any change.
Can the TBI waiver help years after the injury?
It can. Eligibility depends on the brain injury, Medicaid eligibility and the level of care the person needs now, not only on how recent the injury is. The RRDC makes that determination.
What if my loved one does not want help?
Start with one concrete goal they care about, like getting to a weekly appointment on their own. Waiver services are built around the person’s own goals, which often makes the conversation easier.
If you are seeing these signs in Brooklyn or Queens, call (718) 400-6166 or reach us at prioritycareshs.com/contact. We will help you understand whether the TBI waiver is a fit.
