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The most helpful support after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) depends on the injury’s severity, the person’s symptoms, and the care plan. After a mild TBI or concussion, CDC guidance calls for brief rest followed by a gradual, symptom-aware return to activity. After a moderate or severe TBI, recovery may involve specialized medical care and rehabilitation. In either case, stay in contact with the healthcare team, ask what support fits the person’s needs, and avoid assuming there is one timetable for recovery.
Why recovery looks different for each person
TBI effects can differ from one person to another and change over time. For moderate or severe TBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies prior health, the type and severity of injury, access to healthcare and specialized TBI care, and family and social support as factors associated with recovery. These factors do not predict an individual’s outcome or establish a standard recovery schedule.
Use the care team’s guidance as the basis for support. Tell providers what changes you are seeing and ask what is expected for this person, which activities are appropriate now, and when to follow up.
What should a caregiver do after a mild TBI or concussion?
CDC says a person with a mild TBI or concussion should be seen by a healthcare provider. Its guidance, “What to Do After a Mild TBI or Concussion,” dated September 15, 2025, recommends rest during the first few days, then easing back into regular activities after one or two days. A person does not need to wait until every mild symptom has disappeared before beginning a gradual return.
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Help pace the return to activity
- Encourage a gradual return to usual activities, while watching for changes in symptoms.
- If symptoms worsen as activity increases, reduce activity and contact the healthcare provider for guidance.
- Ask the provider for instructions on returning to work, school, driving, exercise, and other activities. Do not assume that being able to do one activity makes another safe.
- Avoid activities that could cause another head injury.
CDC also recommends supporting regular sleep routines and staying socially connected. Its guidance notes, “Having support from family and friends can help with your recovery.”
When should you follow up?
Contact the healthcare provider if symptoms do not go away within 2 to 3 weeks, or if they get worse after the person returns to regular activities. CDC’s 2-to-3-week interval is a follow-up threshold—not a promise or estimate of how long recovery will take. Follow any earlier appointment instructions from the treating team.
What support may help after a moderate or severe TBI?
Some people need specialized medical care after a moderate or severe TBI, including rehabilitation. Depending on the person’s needs and goals, rehabilitation may help them relearn skills—for example, remembering things or driving—and work toward greater independence in daily tasks, social participation, community activities, or returning to work.
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Bring concerns and goals to the care team
Tell providers about difficulties that affect daily life. The CDC identifies depression, chronic pain, headaches, sleep or vision difficulties, and loss of smell or taste among problems that may need attention after a moderate or severe TBI. Ask which concerns should be addressed, what goals are appropriate now, and which professionals or services can help.
When a person is not making progress that seems consistent with the care plan, or you are unsure whether a change is important, share that concern with the provider rather than trying to determine the cause on your own.
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How can you discuss rehabilitation options?
Start with the treating team’s recommendations and the person’s current needs. If you are comparing programs or services, these questions can help make the discussion specific:
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- Relevant expertise: What services does the program provide, and what experience does it have with needs like these?
- Caregiver preparation: What education, hands-on training, or support will be available to family members or other caregivers?
- Next transition: How will the program help plan the move to the next level of care or support?
- Access: Where is the service located, and what arrangements are possible if getting there is difficult?
These are discussion prompts, not a universal ranking system. The MSKTC resource “Family and Caregiver Guide for People with DoC” focuses on choosing rehabilitation programs for people with disorders of consciousness; its scope should not be treated as a rule for selecting every TBI program.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can caregivers find support and services?
Keep in touch with the healthcare provider and, with the person’s agreement where appropriate, family, caregivers, and loved ones involved in support. CDC encourages talking with this network about how recovery is going and telling the provider if progress feels stalled.
CDC’s “Where to Get Help” page, updated and reviewed July 29, 2025, lists U.S.-oriented resources including the Brain Injury Association of America and state brain injury associations, the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, the United States Brain Injury Alliance, Military Health System TBI resources, the Administration for Community Living, and materials from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC). Which services are available depends on location.
If cost or travel makes care difficult, CDC notes that health centers may offer services regardless of ability to pay, with charges adjusted on a sliding scale. Ask local health centers about eligibility and available services; if an in-person visit is hard to manage, ask the provider whether phone or video appointments are an option.
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