Authors:

WILSON, B.A.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2002

CBU number:

5077

Abstract:

Rehabilitation is not synonymous with recovery or restitution of lost functioning. For most people with organic memory deficits, recovery or restitution of lost memory skills is unobtainable. Although rehabilitation may include attempts to restore lost functioning, it goes far beyond this approach. It is concerned with helping people to understand, come to terms with, and compensate for their difficulties. "Cognitive rehabilitation" may be defined as "a process whereby people with brain injury work together with health service professionals to remediate or alleviate cognitive deficits arising from a neurological insult" (Wilson, 1997, p. 488). Memory difficulties are among the commonest cognitive problems arising from injury to the brain; consequently, much cognitive rehabilitation is devoted to helping people wtih memory deficits reduce or avoid everyday problems. This chapter describes some of the ways people with memory deficits can be helped to live as independent and stress-free lives as possible.