Post-stroke aphasia, or difficulty communicating, is a common complication for seniors who have had a stroke. If your aging loved one is experiencing post-stroke aphasia or language-related side effects, check out the following information about aphasia, presented by the professional Albuquerque stroke caregivers from Home Care Assistance.
Aphasia Defined
In general, aphasia describes difficulty communicating with others. This may mean that your loved one has trouble expressing thoughts or feelings, is unable to understand what others are telling them, or a combination of both. Common issues with aphasia include difficulty communicating in social settings and trouble understanding words and sentences.
Types of Aphasia
Beyond the above-mentioned general speech and language problems, there are several specific types of aphasia:
- Wernicke’s Aphasia – Older adults with this type of aphasia have severe communication difficulties, characterized by saying words that don’t make sense, using the wrong words, or stringing unrelated words together as a sentence.
- Broca’s Aphasia – Broca’s includes difficulty forming complete sentences, leaving out words, and trouble understanding sentences and following directions.
- Global Aphasia – If your parent or relative has global aphasia, he or she likely has severe difficulty forming and understanding communications; the result of extensive damage to the left hemisphere of the brain.
Facilitating Communication
If your family member is experiencing aphasia after a stroke, you can help them facilitate communication in new ways. Remember that they are not having trouble thinking, but rather are unable to express their thoughts. Some strategies include asking yes or no questions, speaking slowly and with less complexity, paraphrasing during longer conversations, and using hand gestures or picture cards to help illustrate what is being said.
Interested in learning more about caring for a senior loved one after a stroke? Call (505) 798-0800 and request a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Care Manager and find out how our trained stroke caregivers can assist your loved one in the comfort of home. Home Care Assistance of Albuquerque, NM is a trusted local provider of senior care and we’re here to provide families in the community with quality care, respite, and support.
