Caregiving for PCS
Tools and resources to support yourself and your loved one.
Resource Center
Medically reviewed by Chris Nowinski, PhD
Co-founder and CEO, Concussion & CTE Foundation
If you or a loved one recently experienced a concussion, or have lingering concussion symptoms, our Concussion Guidebook for Patients & Caregivers provides practical information and resources to help you on the journey to recovery.
This essential guidebook is packed with resources to help you navigate the complexities and nuances of concussion recovery.
Complete the form to access more than 80 pages of practical information and resources that you can download and return to whenever needed.
Download our Concussion Guidebook for Patients & Caregivers
PCS patients who have supportive family and friends will almost always have a better recovery than those who don’t. Loved ones can make a world of difference in the way they help those suffering from PCS.
In the video below, the Lovett and Bond families share what they learned about concussion advocacy through caring for their high school aged children suffering from PCS. Concussion & CTE Foundation® co-founder and medical director Dr. Robert Cantu also explains the valuable role family can play in a patient’s recovery.
Believe them.
Living with a complex, invisible injury is difficult enough, but when you doubt your loved one’s symptoms or imply that they are making them up, it can be devastating. Don’t be one of those doubters.
Giving your loved one unconditional validation and support can be more meaningful and beneficial to their recovery than you realize. Parents, you know your child better than anyone and you have an important role to play in advocating for them when they can’t do it for themselves.
Watch this webinar hosted by the Concussion & CTE Foundation® to hear four parents of children who suffered from PCS share strategies for how to:
Concussion recovery is not always linear, and no two concussion are the same. Without a set timeline for recovery, it can be hard to know if your loved one is making progress.
It can be even more difficult when they seem to improve one day and then are worse the next. Try to be patient and know setbacks are normal.
Our second panel of parents share in this video how they managed those setbacks, and they provide insight on topics like:
Depression and anxiety are common symptoms of concussion. While over 99% of people who have a concussion do not experience a suicide-related event, suicide risk does double after a concussion.
If your loved one is struggling to cope and needs emotional support, please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 and you will be connected to a trained counselor. It’s free, confidential, and available to everyone in the United States.
To learn how to best support your loved one who may be experiencing an emotional crisis, please watch this Concussion & CTE Foundation® webinar with mental health experts Dr. Ciara Dockery and Dr. David Reiss.
