Hope Apartments conversion will address severe lack of services for people with brain injuries

Did you know that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in Colorado and the United States? In 2020, 176 Americans died in the US from a TBI-related injury every day.

Any one of us could have a sudden fall, injury or accident that results in a brain injury and a need for long-term or life-long support. Stephens Farm @Adeo opened in 2004 as one of the first four residential programs for adult survivors of brain injury in Colorado. Twenty years later, we continue to be the only provider of these services in the state north of Denver. In October 2021, Adeo convened a committee of community experts to explore options for expanding brain injury services in the area. We are excited to announce that Hope Apartments @Adeo will soon undergo extensive renovations to address this growing need.

Here are some facts from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the prevalence of TBI in Colorado:

• Colorado ranks 9th in the nation for fatalities due to a TBI and 13th in the nation for hospitalizations due to a TBI.
• Each year, almost 5,000 individuals are hospitalized and nearly 1,000 die due to a TBI.
• 23,500 emergency room visits each year are due to a TBI.
• Men are twice as likely to sustain a TBI as women.
• Individuals who are 15-24 years old and 65+ have the highest risk of sustaining a TBI.
• 45% of individuals hospitalized for a TBI continue to experience disability one year after being discharged.

A moderate or severe TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a penetrating injury to the head. Approximately 47% of such injuries are caused by falls, although car accidents, sports injuries, and assaults also often result in brain injuries. For those who survive, a moderate or severe TBI can lead to long-term or life-long health problems affecting all aspects of the person’s life.

Survivors of brain injury must learn to navigate new challenges like memory loss, loss of impulse control, episodes of explosive anger, and impaired movement and sensation. Many survivors experience seizures, depression, and a change in personality. TBI also increases the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.

Learning to live with their “new” brain is a process that can take years and require significant support, especially when there are complex medical, mental health, and substance use issues present along with the brain injury. We are thrilled that Adeo can continue to increase its ability to support people with brain injuries with new renovations to Hope Apartments @Adeo.

Adeo is assisting current tenants of Hope Apartments to find other housing options. We are fortunate to have the support of a number of community partners in making their transition as smooth as possible.