Welcome!
Thank you for your membership with Cognitive Concierge.
I look forward to working with you!
Your ambassador is Maureen O’Neil Brown, MS, OTR/L
Maureen can be reached via email at Maureen.Brown@mycognitiveconcierge.com
Click here to schedule an Ambassador Meeting using our online scheduling tool now! We will use Zoom (zoom.us) to conduct video meetings with your Cognitive Ambassador. Your Ambassador will send you an email prior to your meeting with the weblink to join the Zoom meeting.
Jordan’s current team:
Family-Mom, Susan; Dad, Frank; Four siblings-closest with brother Jamie; Burnese Mountain Dog, Prada; Jordan is youngest of five children
Mark Higgison, CCC-SLP, 1x/week
Olivia, Mark Higgison’s intern-joins Jordan in activities on weekend/evenings (bowling, billiards, Starbucks, dinner, hiking, Pickleball)
Aphasia Center in St. Petersburg, Florida (Michelle, Shelly, Lauren, Laurie, Tommy) via Zoom, 2x/week
Employer in Township, Michigan, Szott Toyota, where Jordan works seven hours/day, 5 days/week detailing cars
Employer in Tucson, Arizona, pizza restaurant, where Jordan works 5pm-8pm, 3 days/week
Community businesses near home in Tucson, Arizona, including Starbucks and Viva Burrito, to which Jordan walks to, approximately 1 mile away.
Goals:
Identify and engage new speech therapist
Identify and engage Neurologist/Physical Medicine and Rehab/physiatrist in Tucson
Identify and engage private case manager
Secure increased hours at current job in Tucson or investigate options for alternate employment
Be as independent and self-sufficient as possible
Be financially independent, via jobs, investments and property holdings
Help Jordan to realize decreased necessity for using ear plugs due to decreased tinnitus
Encourage Jordan to use blue light glasses to decrease potential eyestrain when using devices
Increase engagement in support groups for those experiencing similar challenges/increase opportunities for socialization and forging friendships
Exercise with use of bicycle
Current concerns:
Hearing loss in R ear. Prior tinnitus diagnosis which has improved but Jordan continues to wear ear plugs which seem to affect his ability to take in information. A follow-up exam with audiologist might help to objectify the findings and help Jordan to understand the decreased need for his ear plug use
Jordan has been hesitant to engage in support groups which may assist in forming friendships and understanding he is not alone in his fight with aphasia
Jordan would prefer more hours at his job in Tucson
Zoom sessions are not ideal due to aphasia; however, writing down information on white board assists tremendously
Jordan has a complex medical history which may be assisted by creating a comprehensive chronological report of all treatments and providers, listing what treatments were effective. This can be used to interact with new providers and therapists. It could be possible that your previous case manager might have this information organized already.
Hobbies & Responsibilities
Walking Prada; pick up after her
Assisting with cooking/meal prep including salad, scrambled eggs, smoothies
Tracking investments, mutual funds and stocks
Gaming apps on his phone (We discussed the benefits of blue light-blocking glasses. Here are the ones that I was wearing. Click on the box below to see them on Amazon.
Working at pizza restaurant and Szott Toyota
Speech therapy with Mark and the folks at the aphasia center in Florida
Walking around community to get coffee and food
Social engagements with Olivia
Watching movies (favorites include anything with the “Rat Pack” or Owen Wilson, The Godfather, Legally Blonde, Wall Street, Titanic, The Notebook, Gladiator, The Big Lebowski, Lord of the Rings.)
Listening to music (favorites include Frank Sinatra, especially Fly Me to the Moon, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Annie Lennox)
Interests in fields of economics, cars, music, astronomy, and Greek and Roman literature/classical studies. We discussed Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Here is a link to a version Jordan might like.
Things your ambassador will be working on
I will research the area for a new neurologist/physiatrist.
St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor
734-712-3456
Spoke with Makenzie, intake representative for the hospital system. St. Joe’s does have a multitude of neurologists skilled with treating folks who are living with brain injuries. To initiate the process, a referral and treatment notes from primary doctor would need to be sent to the hospital system; once they review the notes and understand the current needs, they will pair you with the most appropriate neurologist. This is a good process. There are many neurologists out there and they will often specialize in a certain field. Not all neurologists are going to be appropriate or adept at the needs of someone who has sustained a brain injury or stroke, or both. There are also locations in White Lake and Pontiac, but I wanted to check the bigger hospital as they often have more resources. During the process of review, they will look within the hospital-wide system for the best doc, so that may end up being at one of the other locations
I will investigate case managers.
Here are a few good medical case management companies to contact near Waterford Township, MI.
1) Wellspring Case Management
11209 Bellwood Dr.
Plymouth, MI 48170
734-453-1743
Joyce.mauk@wellspringcasemanagement.com
Joyce Mauk Lucas, owner
2) Abbey Consulting Rehab Case Management
2900 Union Lake Rd. Suite 103
Commerce Township MI, 48382
Office Phone: 248-880-5972
Fax: 877-800-4490
Bonnie Manincor, RN, CCM, founder
3) Charter Care, LLC
10255 WELLINGTON DR
CLARKSTON MI 48348
Charlotte Dahlstrom, RN CCM, owner
I will compile a list of support groups for aphasia.
Michigan
University of Michigan Aphasia Program
Dinah Young, Assistant Clinic Managerdinyou@umich.edu | Phone: 734-764-8440 | Fax: 734-647-2489
1111 E. Catherine St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Jennifer Corey, MS, CCC-SLP, Clinical Manager
Intensive speech therapy program, running Mon-Fri 9-2:50. 20- hours of individualized speech therapy and 5 hours of group therapy; Four clients/session; May currently has two openings; June currently has three openings. Slots fill up quickly, especially in the summer months. No MD order needed for speech therapy services. Private pay $23,830/month; financial assistance is available for those who qualify and application is simple, per Dinah; can also get itemized bill at end of month to submit to insurance. It does not look as though the unfriendly Carolyn from Canada is anywhere on the managerial or therapy side of this company anymore and apparently, Jennifer Corey, is both an effective manager and a skilled clinician.
Arizona
Carondelet St Joseph Hospital System
https://www.carondelet.org/locations/detail/st-josephs-hospital 350 North Wilmot Tucson, AZ
Debbie Johnsen, Speech Therapist
Debbie states that, unfortunately, both the aphasia and brain injury groups at St. Joseph’s Hospital have been suspended. She did recommend Fabi Heirsch at Aphasia Center of Tucson/Friends of Aphasia (520-730-8428). I understand you have researched this option in the past.
Speech therapy services for aphasia via the St. Joseph’s Hospital out-patient neurological team may be a good opportunity for individual therapy treatment for Jordan to adjunct therapy with Mark Higgison.
Arizona Institute for Communication and Cognitive Disorders
Phoenix, AZ Mary Jane Trunzo, CCC,SLP 602-224-0202
I wanted to talk with you both about this resource before I pursued it. Jordan turned his nose up at the idea of going to Phoenix for speech therapy. I put it on the list because it looked like a good prospect. She is a speech therapist with experience treating aphasia and sequelae of brain injury and is also a certified brain injury specialist (CBIS), which requires specialized training and yearly education. I know you will most likely be looking at December for engaging this resource, but let me know your preferences and I can reach out for you.
I will research brain injury support services in both Michigan and Arizona
Michigan
Brain Injury Association of Michigan, Macomb Support Group
Martin Zobrovitz, Support group customer service representative and brain injury survivor 586-774-0135
Angela Zender, secretary of support group 586-216-0249 Email: zboys2008@yahoo,com
Meets last Wed of the month from 6:45 pm-9:00 pm
Macomb Intermediate School District (next to Macomb College) Educational Services Center 44001 Garfield Rd Clinton Township, MI 48038
I spoke with Marty for about 45 minutes. He was very responsive to my call, ringing me back just a couple of hours after I left a message (and then apologizing because it took so long because he had doctor’s appointments.) He is a fierce advocate for making sure people who have sustained brain injuries do not feel they are alone. He spoke about the educational programs (MD coming in to speak at April meeting), the information shared (Who is a good neurologist in the area? Who has found a great speech therapist?), but more importantly, the camaraderie that has formed between members and between families. This is a vibrant and active group which strives to hold at least one social event per week. They are running an in-person group. The group also has an Occupational Therapist on staff. This sounds like an excellent opportunity for Jordan. I did not give Jordan’s information. I did not want him to feel pressured to attend, but I know the group would be welcoming and happy to have him there.
Brain Injury Association of Michigan, North Oak Support Group
Eric Noble, director of support group 248-321-7933
Meets second Wednesday of the month at 6 pm.
Auburn Hills Community Center, Carriage Room
1827 North Squirrel Rd
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
This support group is active, long-standing and small (4-10 people). The group has been virtual but Eric is hoping by April, it will be back in person. Monthly meetings include pizza, pop, and dessert. Social activities (movie group, game nights, and, pre-COVID, tickets to the Tigers games) are also a big part of this group. Eric was very helpful and was hopeful Jordan could join the group. He will be sending the activity calendar to me and I will forward it to you. Eric also explained that all support groups in the area have their meetings on separate nights to encourage people to join as many groups as possible. He also spoke highly of the Macomb group. Pre-COVID, the Fall Brain Injury Conference was held in Lansing, MI for professionals but also had a separate night for a formal dinner and dance for survivors and members of Brain Injury Association of Michigan support groups.
Arizona
Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
Website provides detailed descriptions of each support group they run, all with the overarching goal of supporting brain injury survivors 18 and above and their family, friends and caregivers who want to meet others who are in similar situations. Will Grove is the contact person for the groups, so you can get in touch with him with questions or to RSVP to join a group. He and I also spoke for about 45 minutes and seemed confident that the support groups would be able to offer Jordan a safe space to discuss what is on his mind and share experiences with others.
Will Grove, Resource Facilitation Specialist, Certified Brain Injury Specialist 602-508-8024 ext 104
Support groups:
1). Central Tucson Brain Injury Support
Group will meet via Zoom the second Tuesday of the month, 5:30-7:00pm May be the next group to go in-person
2). Brain Cave A discussion group for men on life after brain injury. Group will meet via Zoom the first Wednesday of the month from 6:00-7:30 PM. Average age approximately 40 years old; currently around 10-12 participants
3). Statewide Brain Injury Support
This group will meet via Zoom the fourth Thursday of the month, 6:00-7:00pm Group is smaller, at around 7 participants currently
Things you can work on:
Please review this resource page. If there is any information to add or correct, please let me know. I want it to be accurate!
Please add your preferences for bookings to the calendar. Let me know if you have any questions.
Consider the Gold level service should you want to continue the membership at the renewal time.
Support for the Caregiver
Respite and a supportive community assist with preserving mental and physical health of the caregiver. Respite may come in the form of a daily, routine leisure activity in which your loved one will independently engage, a friend or relative who will spend time with your loved one, or a formal community program for engagement. Knowing your loved one is safe and content will allow you take time to care for yourself to complete necessary errands or engage in work or leisure tasks with full attention. Support groups will allow you to find a safe space to discuss common issues, problem solve with others, and create a network of resources.