• Assist with access to health care providers who understand a client’s injury
• Schedule clients’ various appointments
• Drive clients to appointments
• Help clients advocate for their needs and understand medical recommendations
• Help clients follow through with recommendations
• Assist clients in coordinating health care services

Case Example

Since her brain injury, Bridget finds herself getting overwhelmed with doctor’s appointments: remembering when they are, where the office is located, and who the appointment is with. Bridget contacted the Navigator and learned that the Navigator can take care of all of this for her! With the help of this service, Bridget will be able to focus on other aspects of her life, and not miss any more appointments due to forgetting.

• Accompany clients to important meetings and court appearances
• Help clients understand the requirements of their case and recommendations of their legal team
• Help clients follow through with those recommendations and requirements

Case Example

Tyler is working with an attorney regarding a trust he just acquired. He decides to hire the Navigator because the entire process is overwhelming for him. The Navigator can assist with advocacy at meetings/court appearances, paperwork filing/completion, and following through with attorney recommendations.

• Work with client’s family, and/or legal team to serve as their advocate after their family is no longer able
• Meet regularly with clients and their care providers to ensure that their needs are met

Case Example

Gary and Dolly have been taking care of their son Alex since his brain injury when he was a child. Alex is now a grown adult, who still needs that assistance from his parents. Gary and Dolly are getting older now and are looking into retirement. However, they want to make sure that Alex is still cared for. They hired the Navigator to take over the advocacy they were doing, so that they can transition into retirement, and still know Alex’s needs are being met.

Work with client to develop strategies and systems for:

• Memory strategies
• Mail sorting
• Budgeting
• Bill payment
• Assist with implementation of prescribed medication management protocols
• Grocery shopping
• Meal preparation
• Accessing transportation

Case Example

Mike was having difficulties remembering to pay his bills on time every month. He knows that he can set up some bills to be paid automatically online, but he does not know how to go about doing that. The Navigator can assist Mike by helping him set up online payments for those bills that offer it, as well as developing strategies to help him remember to pay the other bills on time.

• Job seeking skills
• Determining potential career interests
• Building of resume
• Assist with applications
• Interviewing skills
• Understand the accommodations necessary for clients to succeed at work or school
• Help clients advocate for those accommodations

Case Example

Kayleigh is interested in returning to work, but does not know where to start, since she is unable to return to her previous job before her brain injury. The Navigator facilitates the process by assisting Kayleigh each step of the way, from her interests in a job, building a resume, assisting with applications, interviewing skills, and job accommodations once she obtains a job.

Provide direct assistance to clients for completion of paperwork:

• Insurance
• Food Stamps
• Social Service and disability benefits

Case Example

Randy needs to apply for Food Stamps but is completely overwhelmed with the paperwork he must fill out, and the additional documents they require from him. Randy hired the Navigator to help him make sure all the necessary fields are filled out in the paperwork, and to gather the correct documentation. This way, he won’t be submitting something that is incomplete.

• Ensuring a smooth coordinated move from inpatient/facility-based living to community living
• Assist with implementation of prescribed medication management protocols
• Coordination of doctors/outpatient services
• Ensure a safe home environment
• Facilitating access to transportation
• Assist with paperwork for state services; SSI/SSDI/Food Stamps/ Health insurance

Case Example

Lindsay is being discharged from the hospital after being treated for her newly acquired brain injury. She has been assigned a transition coordinator, but this professional does not actually visit her home and assist her. Lindsay hired the Navigator to come to her home to make sure everything is ready and safe for her. This can include accommodations, access to transportation, and completing paperwork for state assistance.

Q: I didn’t see the service that I need listed. Are there other additional services not listed?
A: It doesn’t necessarily mean that the Navigator can’t assist you. There are MANY services that are not listed that we are still able to help our clients with! Please contact BIAC to discuss your needs at 860-219-0291.

Q: Do you take insurance?
A: Unfortunately, at this point in time, this service is an out-of-pocket service. We do not work with insurance. BUT we are very flexible in our scheduling and can work with your budget!

Q: Do you come to my home, or see me in the community?
A: In some cases, depending on your goals, we will need to come to your home, but in a lot of cases, we can meet via video chat, or speak over the phone. This even saves you money in travel!

Q: I believe I would only need the Navigator service maybe once a month. Can you do that?
A: The Navigator is incredibly flexible and can meet as little as you need. A lot of times our clients do not want someone to come in every week, so it can be bi-weekly, monthly, or even just a couple times a year!

Q: Who is this service for? My nephew has a brain injury, and I know my sister needs some help managing his care. Are you able to assist her?
A: The Navigator is designed to help many people in addition to the individual with the brain injury. This could be family members, friends, colleagues, care workers, or other professionals.

Q: How do we start the referral process for the Navigator Service?
A: We don’t require a referral from any professional for you to sign on with this service. To get started simply contact Victor Darr 860-219-0291 ext 302, to discuss your goals, and he will determine if the Navigator Service will be able to assist you. From there you just need to sign some paperwork, and we can get started on your assessment!

Q: Are you HIPAA Compliant?
A: Yes! The initial paperwork you sign will discuss how we are HIPAA Compliant, and you will need to sign a Release of Information for anyone who you may want the Navigator to speak with.

Q: I know that I need assistance with grocery shopping, but how do I find out if the Navigator can help me with other areas where I may need assistance?
A: When hiring the Navigator, we complete an assessment to determine the areas in which you might need assistance. This assessment can help you set goals in your areas of need.

Q: How did you come up with the fee pricing for the Navigator?
A: The pricing for the Navigator required extensive research while developing this service; we wanted to make this affordable, since we don’t take insurance. However, there isn’t another service like the Navigator offered in CT, so we had to research other states. Once we found data to compare, we determined our pricing should come in significantly lower than what others are charging, since our goal is to help the individuals who have “fallen through the cracks”.

Q: Why should I choose the Navigator?
A: When hiring the Navigator, you are enlisting in the expertise of the entire team at BIAC. We are all Brain Injury Specialists, with different backgrounds that can assist a wide variety of clients’ goals. In addition to our knowledge base at BIAC, we have a large network of professionals we can reach out to, to make sure our clients find and receive the best care possible.

Don’t see your question here?
Contact Victor Darr, Director of Programs and Services, at vdarr@biact.org  or call him at 860-219-0291 X 304