Your Brain Injury Recovery Team: Candace Rebuck - #5Thoughts Flashback: Bambi, Babies, and Blood Vessels

The Work of a Recreational Therapist: A Conversation with Candace Rebuck

Brain injuries are invisible, silent and often lifelong. Our guest today on the Brain Injury Connector is Candace Rebuck, a Recreational Therapist. Candace focuses on helping individuals transition back to their previous lifestyle after a brain injury and regain the ability to participate in the things they love doing. Recreational Therapy is a process that involves activity-based interventions to address the specific needs of individuals suffering from injury or disability. Recreational Therapy combines aspects of Physical therapy, Occupational therapy and Speech therapy, utilizing balance, fine motor skills, mental and cognitive exercises, and engaging patients in the things they are most passionate about. One of the core focuses of Recreational Therapy is having fun! Masking the hard work of recovery in leisure and recreational activities, Cadence says, “If you’re having a good time with it, you’re going to do more!” Candace also works closely with the patients entire recovery team - physicians, nursing and therapy staff, rehab aids, neuropsychologist, and most importantly, the individuals family members. Providing knowledge, resources, and tools to the family as the patient recovers, helps to make sure they’re on board and understand the process. Candace says as a Recreational Therapist, it’s important to leave your outside world outside, being totally available to help people cope with their new reality. Candace is a jack of all trades when it comes to therapy, but she’s most proud of the work she does as a certified instructor in Non Violent Crisis Prevention and her specialty certifications in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brain Injury.

For more information you can visit www.biamd.org or call the free helpline at 1-800-221-6443.

#5Thoughts Flashback: Bambi, Babies, and Blood Vessels

5 Thoughts Friday: Every Friday we carefully select relevant news updates, stories, book reviews inspirational quotes as well as highlighting Maryland’s Board of Tourism. This week we’ve highlighted a story that takes a closer look at the things we should be looking out for in terms of inflammation in the brain and specifically the cardiovascular and microvascular aspects that Covid is creating in brain injury. We also share an encouraging article about getting back to work after a brain injury. Sign up for our #5thoughtsfriday weekly newsletter at hcps://www.biamd.org/ 5thoughtsfridays.html and subscribe to this podcast to hear more from the leading experts in the ever-evolving world of brain injury & brain injury recovery.

Bryan Pugh celebrated his tenth year as Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland in February of 2021. He spends the majority of his time working to create a better future for the citizens of Maryland through brain injury prevention, education, advocacy and the promotion of research. Bryan’s passion for serving individuals with a brain injury stems from his wife’s work as an advanced practice neurology nurse, his adopted son’s challenges with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and his sister’s diagnosis with inoperable brain cancer. In his role as Executive Director, he has the privilege of working with dedicated survivors, families, professionals, and legislators on important issues affecting Maryland’s brain injury community. Prior to being named the BIAMD’s Executive Director, Bryan worked for the University of Maryland School of Law in the Dean’s Development and Communications office. A native of Florida, an attorney and mediator by training, Bryan has also served as Assistant and Associate General Counsel representing various state agencies, including the Florida Department of Corrections, the Florida Highway Patrol, the State of Florida Board of Regents, and several state universities in Florida.

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