Approximately 70 000 acquire a brain injury yearly in Sweden which often result in disabilities. Acquired brain injury (ABI) can be caused by trauma, stroke or disease. The rehabilitation process is divided into acute and subacute phase and the late stage. Studies shows that clients with moderate and severe injuries have difficulties in coordinating rehabilitation and societal support. Rehabilitation can be a long-term process and clients with ABI are often referred to next of kin for coordinating societal support, e.g. rehabilitation and social services. Case-management have since 1980’s been a rehabilitation support in an international perspective, but in a Swedish context it is a relatively new form of support.
The aim is to describe, based on a book chapter (Strandberg 2018), how this form of support has been developed in Sweden, as well as putting the form of support in relation to the client’s empowerment.
The results show that there are different theoretical models for how Case-management can be organized, the support is designed differently in different countries and context. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the support may be helpful to the client as well as the next of kin in terms of participation.
Although, Case-management has been known since 1980s, the scientific studies are limited and there is no evidence for the clinical significance using this support. Research is therefore necessary to demonstrate its clinical significance.