Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T15:40:57.811Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Families of veterans with traumatic brain injury in Australia and the United States: Implications for rehabilitation counselors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2021

Charles Edmund Degeneffe Open the ORCID record for Charles Edmund Degeneffe [Opens in a new window]
Charles Edmund Degeneffe*
Affiliation:
Rehabilitation Counseling Program, Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Starting with World War I, Australia and the United States have been allies in military operations. Since then, both countries have been challenged by meeting the needs of military personnel incurring traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially during recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. TBI impacts all members of the veteran’s family. This paper articulates the shared responsibility both countries assume in meeting the support needs faced by families of military veterans with TBI and how TBI in the military is different than in the civilian population. The paper describes how both countries differently address the needs of family caregivers of veterans with TBI and outlines areas for rehabilitation counselor collaborations in research and training.

Keywords

familyinternationalmilitarytraumatic brain injuryveteran
Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , December 2021 , pp. 137 - 147
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press and The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Army. (n.d.). Australian Army in Afghanistan. Retrieved from https://www.army.gov.au/our-heritage/history/history-focus/australian-army-afghanistan.Google Scholar
Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors Ltd. (2020). Competencies for rehabilitation counsellors. Retrieved from https://www.asorc.org.au/documents/item/2592.Google Scholar
Australian War Memorial. (2021). Indigenous service in Australia’s armed forces in peace and war-overview. Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/indigenous-service/report-executive-summary.Google Scholar
Australians Together. (2021). What about history? How our history of invasion and social control impacts today. Retrieved from https://australianstogether.org.au/discover/australian-history/get-over-it/.Google Scholar
Baldassarre, M., Smith, B., Harp, J., Herrold, A., High, W. M. Jr, Babcock-Parziale, J., & Pape, T. L. B. (2015). Exploring the relationship between mild traumatic brain injury exposure and the presence and severity of postconcussive symptoms among veterans deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. PM&R, 7(8), 845–858.Google ScholarPubMed
Bellon, M., Crocker, R., Farnden, J., Gardner, J., Sando, S., & Peterson, C. (2015). Family support needs following acquired brain injury across metropolitan and regional/remote South Australia. Brain Impairment, 16(2), 131–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brain Injury Australia. (2016). Speakers announced for national launch of 2017’s awareness week. Retrieved from https://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/speakers-national-launch-2017-awareness-week/.Google Scholar
Brickell, T. A., French, L. M., Gartner, R. L., Driscoll, A. E., Wright, M. M., Lippa, S. M., & Lange, R. T. (2019a). Factors related to perceived burden among caregivers of service members/veterans following TBI. Rehabilitation Psychology, 64(3), 307–319.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brickell, T. A., Lippa, S. M., French, L. M., Gartner, R. L., Driscoll, A. E., Wright, M. M., & Lange, R. T. (2019b). Service needs and health outcomes among caregivers of service members and veterans following TBI. Rehabilitation Psychology, 64(1), 72–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burke, H., Degeneffe, C. E., & Olney, M. (2009). A new disability for rehabilitation counselors: Iraq War veterans with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Rehabilitation, 75(3), 5–14.Google Scholar
Bursnall, S., Kendall, E., & Degeneffe, C. E. (2018). Regaining equilibrium: Understanding the process of sibling adjustment to pediatric acquired brain injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 63(3), 447–459.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carlozzi, N. E., Brickell, T. A., Psych, D., French, L. M., Sander, A., Kratz, A. L., … & Lange, R. T. (2016). Caring for our wounded warriors: A qualitative examination of health-related quality of life in caregivers of individuals with military-related traumatic brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 53(6), 669–680.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cifu, D. X., Cohen, S. I., Lew, H. L., Jaffee, M., & Sigford, B. (2010). The history and evolution of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation in military service members and veterans. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 89(8), 688–694.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (2015). 2016 CACREP standards. Retrieved from http://www.cacrep.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2016-Standards-with-citations.pdf.Google Scholar
Cummins, T. L., Elias, A., Lamb, F., Ponsford, J. L., Hopwood, M., Villemagne, V. V., & Rowe, C. C. (2021). Cognitive deficits four decades after traumatic brain injury in Australian Vietnam War veterans. Global Psychiatry, 4(1), 1–11.Google Scholar
Defence Families of Australia. (2020). Annual agenda and year in review: 2020. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.Google Scholar
Defense Medical Surveillance System. (2021). DOD numbers for traumatic brain injury worldwide. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved from https://health.mil/About-MHS/OASDHA/Defense-Health-Agency/Research-and-Development/Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Center-of-Excellence/DoD-TBI-Worldwide-Numbers.Google Scholar
Degeneffe, C. E. (2001). Family caregiving and traumatic brain injury. Health and Social Work, 26(4), 257–268.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Degeneffe, C. E. (2019). Understanding traumatic brain injury from a Gestalt approach. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 50(4), 252–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Degeneffe, C. E., & Burcham, C. (2008). Adult sibling caregiving for persons with traumatic brain injury: Predictors of affective and instrumental support. Journal of Rehabilitation, 74(3), 10–20.Google Scholar
Degeneffe, C.E., Tucker, M., & Griffin, J. (2015). Families of veterans with polytrauma injuries in the United States: A guide for rehabilitation counseling practice. In Millington, M. and Marini, I. (Eds.), Families in rehabilitation counseling: A community-based rehabilitation approach (pp. 213–230). New York: Springer Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Department of Defence. (n.d.). Your family. Retrieved from https://www.defence.gov.au/dco/family/.Google Scholar
Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (n.d.-a). Partner service pension. Retrieved from https://www.dva.gov.au/financial-support/support-families/partner-service-pension.Google Scholar
Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (n.d.-b). Support for families. Retrieved from https://www.dva.gov.au/financial-support/support-families.Google Scholar
Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (2020). Compensation for dependents under the MRCA. Retrieved from https://www.dva.gov.au/financial-support/support-families/compensation-dependants-under-mrca.Google Scholar
Embassy of Australia. (2020). Australia-US defence relationship. Retrieved from https://usa.embassy.gov.au/defence-cooperation.Google Scholar
Friedman, C., & VanPuymbrouck, L. (2018). Community-based services for people with brain injury: A national analysis. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 32(2), 123–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffin, J. M., Friedemann-Sánchez, G., Jensen, A. C., Taylor, B. C., Gravely, A., Clothier, B., … & Van Ryn, M. (2012). The invisible side of war: Families caring for US service members with traumatic brain injuries and polytrauma. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 27(1), 3–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Health.mil. (n.d.). DoD worldwide TBI numbers. Retrieved from https://health.mil/About-MHS/OASDHA/Defense-Health-Agency/Research-and-Development/Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Center-of-Excellence/DoD-TBI-Worldwide-Numbers.Google Scholar
Hoge, C., McGurk, D., Thomas, J. L., Cox, A. L., Engel, C. C., & Castro, C. A. (2008). Mild traumatic brain injury in U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358(5), 453–463.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ignatius, D. (2021). Opinion: A new U.S. alliance responding to the Chinese threat reignites ages-old tensions with France. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/15/new-us-alliance-responds-chinese-aggression-us-military-complacency/.Google Scholar
Kolakowsky-Hayner, S. A., Miner, K. D., & Kreutzer, J. S. (2001). Long-term life quality and family needs after traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 16(4), 374–385.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawrence-Wood, E., McFarlane, A., Lawrence, A., Sadler, N., Hodson, S., Benassi, H., Bryant, R., Korgaonkar, M., Rosenfeld, J., Sim, M., Kelsall, H., Abraham, M., Baur, J., Howell, S., Hansen, C., Iannos, M., Searle, Al., & Van Hooff, M. (2019). Impact of combat report, impact of combat study. Melbourne, Victoria: Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.Google Scholar
Lhamon, D. P., Adegbile, D. P., Heriot, G. L., Kirsanow, P.N., Kladney, D., Narasaki, K., & Yaki, M. (2018). Briefing report: Broken promises: Continuing Federal funding shortfall for Native Americans. Retrieved from https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/2018/12-20-Broken-Promises.pdf.Google Scholar
Lindquist, L. K., Love, H. C., & Elbogen, E. B. (2017). Traumatic brain injury in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: new results from a national random sample study. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 29(3), 254–259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matthews, L. R., Buys, N. J., Crocker, R., & Degeneffe, C. E. (2007). Overview of disability employment policy and rehabilitation practice in Australia: Implications for rehabilitation counselor education. Rehabilitation Education, 21(4), 241–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLennan, V., Buys, N., Matthews, L. R., Randall, C., Millington, M., & Crocker, R. (2021). Advancing rehabilitation counseling professional identity in Australia. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 35(2), 106–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moriarty, H., Winter, L., Robinson, K., Piersol, C. V., Vause-Earland, T., Iacovone, D. B., … & Gitlin, L. N. (2016). A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the veterans’ in-home program for military veterans with traumatic brain injury and their families: Report on impact for family members. PM&R, 8(6), 495–509.Google ScholarPubMed
Moriarty, H., Winter, L., Short, T. H., & True, G. (2018). Exploration of factors related to depressive symptomatology in family members of military veterans with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Family Nursing, 24(2), 184–216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Office of the Historian. (n.d.). The Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS Treaty). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/anzus.Google Scholar
Parliament of Australia. (2020). Social security and welfare. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/SocialSecurityWelfare.Google Scholar
Pozzato, I., Tate, R. L., Rosenkoetter, U., & Cameron, I. D. (2019). Epidemiology of hospitalised traumatic brain injury in the state of New South Wales, Australia: A population-based study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(4), 382–388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia. (n.d.). Accreditation manual for rehabilitation counseling education programs. Retrieved from https://rcaa.org.au/documents/RCAA%20Accreditation%20Manual%20v5%20FINAL.pdf.Google Scholar
Shepherd-Banigan, M. E., Shapiro, A., McDuffie, J. R., Brancu, M., Sperber, N. R., Van Houtven, C. H., … & Williams, J. W. (2018). Interventions that support or involve caregivers or families of patients with traumatic injury: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(7), 1177–1186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sim, M., Wright, B., Kelsall, H., Magruder, K., & Karzic, D. (2015). United States and Australia joint research effort: Project 1: Comparative literature review: November 2015. Retrieved from https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/publications/health/US%20Australia%20Comparative%20Literature%20Review.PDF.Google Scholar
Summerall, E. L. (2008). Traumatic brain injury and PTSD fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.ncptsd.va.gov.Google Scholar
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2015). Polytrauma/TBI system of care. Retrieved from https://www.polytrauma.va.gov/system-of-care/index.asp.Google Scholar
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefits/.Google Scholar
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021). VA caregiver support. Retrieved from https://hiddenheroes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/VA-CSP-Programs-and-Services-4.2016.pdf.Google Scholar
United States State Department. (2021). U.S. relations with Australia. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheet: Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-australia/.Google Scholar
Waszak, D. L., & Holmes, A. M. (2017). The unique health needs of post-9/11 U.S. veterans. Workplace Health & Safety, 65(9), 430–444. doi: 10.1177/2165079916682524 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whiteneck, G. G., Cuthbert, J. P., & Mellick, D. C. (2015). VA traumatic brain injury veterans health registry report: Cumulative from 1st quarter FY 2002 through 4th quarter 2013 (October 2001 through September 2013). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and NIDRR/U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from https://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/epidemiology/TBI-report-fy2013-qtr4.pdf.Google Scholar
Winter, L., Moriarty, H. J., Robinson, K., Piersol, C. V., Vause-Earland, T., Newhart, B., … & Gitlin, L. N. (2016). Efficacy and acceptability of a home-based, family-inclusive intervention for veterans with TBI: A randomized controlled trial. Brain Injury, 30(4), 373–387.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed