Operation Healing Forces Donates Weighted Blankets to Veterans at PREP at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital

of traumatic brain injury to donate weighted blankets to Veterans currently undergoing rehabilitation.  Their donation will help Veterans in the Post-deployment Rehabilitation Evaluation Program manage anxiety and improve sleep, both critical components of the healing process.

Phillip Fong, a former patient at the hospital, has a personal connection to the cause. 

“Having been a patient here myself, I know firsthand how challenging the road to recovery can be,” said Fong. “Weighted blankets made a real difference in my own healing, especially when it came to managing anxiety and getting better sleep.” 

Weighted blankets provide numerous benefits, particularly for individuals coping with stress, anxiety, or trauma. They create a sense of calm by simulating deep touch pressure, similar to the feeling of being gently hugged or held. This pressure can help lower stress hormones, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep quality, which are essential factors in both mental and physical recovery. 

For Veterans, these blankets offer a holistic approach to easing distress and enhancing the overall rehabilitation experience. The blankets, donated to the Post-Deployment Rehabilitation and Evaluation Program within the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, will provide immediate benefits. 

“Sleep is fundamental to rehabilitation in TBI care and plays a critical role in supporting brain health,” said Dr, Karen M. Skop, PREP program director “Our program focuses on reducing symptoms of TBI, including physical, cognitive and mental health. Anything we can do to support and enhance the sleep environment is a win for our patients.”

PREP’s mission to provide each Active-Duty Service Member and Veteran with compassionate, state-of-the-art individualized treatment services focusing on rehabilitation and mental health needs following complex TBI exposure during deployments or training. The team assists those in their care with improving functional abilities, reducing symptom complains, stabilizing psychological distress while restoring confidence and a sense of mastery, while also enhancing family relationships and ongoing recovery.

“Sleep is so important for recovery, whether it’s mental health or physical healing,” Arnts added. “It’s great to be able to give back to a place that helped me so much.”

For more information about Operation Healing Forces and their work supporting veterans, visit https://operationhealingforces.org/ and to learn more about PREP, visit https://www.va.gov/tampa-health-care/programs/programs/the-post-deploym….