Wordy Wednesday - Communication Disorders after brain injury and how it impacts caregivers
Channel: Stroke Assaulter
Date: 13/02/2020

#WordyWednesday #Aphasia #Anomia #CommunicationDisorders

In this episode of Wordy Wednesday we will discuss how a communication disorder be that aphasia, anomia, and/or verbal apraxia can impact the caregivers.

We all have people in our lives that hold a place of significance, be that a spouse, children, siblings, close friends, and even Dave.  The communication disorders or deficits that accompany our stroke, brain injury or concussion can cause stress and strain on those relationships.

Some Caregivers have reported that the Aphasia has impacted their lives and relationships in the following manners:
Aphasia is particularly stressful to caregivers and comparable to that found in dementia caregivers.
• Caregivers experience financial, health and significant alterations in their social lives 
• Greatest change is role reversals for family and assuming new responsibilities.
• Caregivers exhibit feelings of anger and guilt and greater marital difficulties.
• Exhibit depression, loneliness and other emotional problems.
• As caregivers’ well being declines so does their ability to care for the survivors and this increases their risk for poor health.

It has been found that relationships between survivors and caregivers tend to have a healthy and positive outcome if there is 
1) Preparation ( knowledge, perception to care for physical and emotional needs and ability to arrange services) was a strong predictor of stress in caregivers.
2)Mutuality (the degree of which the couple’s relationship was characterized by love, shared activities and common values ) was the strongest predictor for survivors.

With potential predictors of higher stress in caregivers include: poor health, being younger, lack of preparation for care-giving duties and absence of social support.


If you notice the signs and symptoms of a stroke in your or someone around you

Balance / Co-ordination / Confusion
Eye and Vision Problems
Facial Droop
Slurred Speech
Stuttering
Inappropriate Word Usage for situation or context
Inability to stand
General Weakness or Weakness to one Body Side
Inability to properly and evenly Smile

Please Immediately place that person in a position of comfort and Dial 911

www.heartandstroke.ca/FAST

#IWillAgain   #UpAgainAfterStroke  #StrokeSurvivor #Strokeunder50 #FightStroke #StrokeAwareness

You can contact me in the following methods

strokeassaulter@gmail.com

https://twitter.com/AssaulterStroke

Here are the articles I used to research this video:

University of Michigan:  A Caregiver Curriculum for Living with Partners with Aphasia
https://www.michiganspeechhearing.org/docs/A%20Caregiver%20Curriculum%20for%20Living%20with%20Partners%20with%20Aphasia.pdf

The Aphasia Center 6 Tips to Help with Aphasia Caregiver Burnout
https://theaphasiacenter.com/2017/02/6-tips-help-aphasia-caregiver-burnout/

The National Aphasia Association  Caregiver Resouces
https://www.aphasia.org/category/i-am-a-caregiver/

Caregiver Solutions:  Living With Aphasia
https://www.caregiversolutions.ca/featured-carousel/living-with-aphasia/

The Aphasia Institute – Programs and Services
https://www.aphasia.ca/people-with-aphasia-and-families/aphasia-institute-programs-services/