“I’m not willing to give up yet, no way.”

March is brain injury awareness month. Empower House has been helping brain injury survivors connect and find a purpose.

DAVENPORT, IA - “I’m not willing to give up yet, no way,” says Genie Meyer, member of Empower House – A Brain Injury Clubhouse, as she expresses her gratitude with a smile toward the Clubhouse, Iowa’s first and only Brain Injury Clubhouse, located in Downtown Davenport in the Redstone Building. “They keep you motivated so you keep doing something, so you feel good inside and I like it,” Meyer continues.

“It’s important for people with brain injuries to get out into the public,” says Genie’s husband and caregiver, Charlie. “Genie had tons of friends and then she had the brain injury and they all disappeared. It’s really sad to live through it. Empower House gives her the opportunity to get out in public. It allows me a chance to take some deep breathes and helps her by being able to be around other people. It’s a win-win.”

March is brain injury awareness month. Genie and Charlie’s situation is not isolated. According to recent studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 95 percent of brain injury survivors do not receive all of the services necessary to help them reach their full potential. Thousands of Iowans are left with little resources and a lack of community after their injury. Brain injury can be a chronic lifelong condition, but most medical insurances typically only allow a few months or less of therapy to recover from a brain injury. Brain injury survivors are then often left asking, “what’s next?” looking for resources once medical rehab is over. Empower House offers that next step. Brain injury survivors are like anyone else, they need a purpose, a place to be heard and a sense of belonging. Empower House provides all of this in a positive atmosphere.

“No matter what we asked the doctors, they kept coming back with nothing,” explains Bob Boyd, charter Empower House member, when speaking about finding resources for recovery after brain injury. After spending eight years post-injury at home unengaged in the community, Bob found Empower House. “Everybody kind of has the same situation, we just get each other,” says Bob.

"There is struggle in helping people with the next step as they stabilize medically. There isn't the mechanism in traditional healthcare in the U.S. to help provide a resource that way." says Dr. Conway Chin, Empower House Board Member, as he explains the benefits of a Clubhouse from a physician's perspective. "I have another tool with this Clubhouse, so there is a good investment and commitment to provide a safe place for people recovering from a brain injury."

Empower House is a place where people with brain injuries come to be productive and enjoy contributing to a common cause. Friendships and as sense of community happen organically as they rebuild their lives together. Survivors learn work and life skills and are never turned away for the inability to pay. Empower House fundraises throughout the year to support programming and member attendance. They are celebrating brain injury awareness month and their third anniversary of operation with a Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser this Saturday, March 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. Cost is $5 per person, age 3 and under are free. Along with good food, friends and fellowship, information about Empower House and brain injury will be available.

Empower House is open three days a week and anyone is invited to take a tour by appointment by calling 563-232-1002. To help support Empower House, join them at their Spaghetti Supper on March 26 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Dine-in or take-out is available. Donations can also be made online at empowerhouseqca.org/support.