Certified brain injury specialist Melissa Volkert has been working as an occupational therapist since 2007 and has a subspecialty in neurological rehabilitation, specifically involving traumatic brain injuries, strokes and vision therapy.

At the Vail-Summit Physical Therapy clinic in Frisco, Volkert works with patients assessing daily life activities, return-to-work programs and community integration plans with a focus on cognitive, vision and sensory processing in addition to psychosocial interventions.

“The word ‘occupation’ isn’t just work,” Volkert said. “An occupation is every task you do in your daily life. That could be your home life, your self-care, getting dressed, bathing, putting together meals, doing your grocery shopping — it can be driving.”

Volkert facilitates the Summit County Brain Injury Support Group, which is supported by the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, Vail-Summit Physical Therapy and St. Anthony Summit Hospital. The support group varies in attendance numbers, but Volkert said she has more than 100 people on an email list for the group.

At the support group meetings, survivors and their loved ones can talk about their personal experiences with others and get connected with resources. During a meeting Feb. 6, Volkert invited a sleep specialist to discuss with attendees their options for achieving better sleep. Many TBI survivors experience problems with sleep, whether it is sleeping too much or not enough.

The group meets monthly at St. Anthony Summit Hospital in Frisco. Specific meeting locations can vary based on the activity. The group also offers a Zoom option for those who can’t make it in person. Anyone who is interested in the group is encouraged to contact Volkert at 970-668-6980 or melissavolkert@centura.org.

The Brain Injury Association of Colorado writes that support groups offer a “welcoming space” for survivors and their loved ones to come together with others who understand their problems. Support groups cultivate a “two-way street of giving and receiving,” where members can feel supported by the group while also supporting others, according to the association’s website.

The Brain Injury Association of Colorado has a webpage with resources for where to find your nearest brain injury support group as well as resources for starting one’s own support group at BIAColorado.org/support-groups.

If there isn’t an active support group near you, there are still ways to find community support online.

Smart Patients is an online community where patients and families affected by various illnesses, including brain injuries, can talk to others and learn about their ailment. 

Here is a list of other online support groups and communities:

• Traumatic Brain Injury TBI Awareness and Support Facebook group was started in 2010 and has over 20,000 members.
• 1 PINK Concussions’ Women’s Group on Facebook is a private group where women over 25 can join to share their experiences with other women.
• Reddit page r/TBI has more than 20,000 members and features posts every day.
• Severe BI Caregivers is a nationwide support group that meets virtually twice a month specifically for individuals and families who care for those suffering from any type of serious brain injury.
• Resilient Roots is an online support group for parents living with a brain injury and meets every third Thursday of the month on Zoom.
• The Reinventors is a virtual support group for people who are 30 or younger with a brain injury and meets monthly. To get more information, contact facilitator Vicky Fukuhara at vfukuhar@comcast.net.