Aphasia: Helpful Hints at Home and in the Community
Reviewed October 2009
The following are tips to help a person with aphasia and family members function easier at home and in the community. These are general tips that may not work for everyone. Take the ideas below and modify or expand them to work for your family. Most of these strategies do not involve language - continue to use the language techniques that your speech therapist has given.
At Home
Names - think of common names, such as a caregiver or even a pet; the name of a spouse may not always be the most important to work on
Phone calls - make daily phone calls to family or close friends, even if unable to say much. The person receiving the call can acknowledge the communication attempt and use a strategy that works best for the person with aphasia such as asking yes/no or multiple choice questions. This can help increase comfort with using the phone.
Address book - keep an address book up to date. This can help with conversations and allow a person with aphasia to locate a name when trying to tell you about someone. Adding a photo of the person may also be beneficial.
Groceries - the person with aphasia can leave empty packages out (e.g., the milk carton) so someone else is reminded to replace or add to the shopping list.
Clock - use a clock that has moveable hands. The hands can be set to remind the person with aphasia of the time to do something (e.g., move the hands to 2:00 if there is something happening at that time). The hands can also be moved during a conversation to help describe a time that something happened.
Gestures - Family members and the person with aphasia can develop and use gestures that represent people, objects or places (e.g., gesturing with hands the height of a child or gesturing in the direction of someone’s house).
Writing materials – always keep paper and pen handy
Chores - a person with aphasia can still contribute to the household by being responsible for laundry, pet care, dusting, loading or unloading the dishwasher, getting the mail, vacuuming, etc. Starting dinner is also possible by writing down the appropriate time and oven temperature in advance, if necessary.
Newspaper – a person with aphasia can follow the numbers, maps and graphics in the weather section. Newspapers can also help with reading comprehension and conversations about current events. Sometimes the person with aphasia can identify a headline or picture of interest then a family member or caregiver can read or assist them with reading the article. To help with discussing a topic from the newspaper, cut out the heading or write down some key words to help with word finding.
Radio - music in most cases remains familiar and a person with aphasia may even be able to sing along.
Hobbies - many hobbies do not involve much language such as puzzles, solitaire or cards on the computer, bird watching, exercising.
Pictures - “are worth a 1,000 words…” It’s true! Key chains, photo albums, and camera phones are helpful with conversation.
In the Community
Riding in a car, taking public transportation, walking – keep in mind that aphasia affects language and not necessarily memory for directions. A person with aphasia may not be able to tell you where they want to go but they may show you by pointing or gesturing.
Driving - follow the doctor’s recommendations or those from the professional driver’s evaluation (e.g., limit distractions, carry an aphasia identification card)
Information card – it is helpful to have frequently used information on hand (names, phone numbers). Also, having written information prepared in advance at home can be used to improve conversations.
Restaurants – restaurants offer a chance for a person with aphasia to get used to talking with strangers and to practice feeling comfortable going out alone. Ordering may be done independently by pointing to an item or by using picture menus.
Clothing and accessories - wearing something with information (t-shirt with “Grandma” or a cap with college logo) can help people initiate conversations.
At Home
Names - think of common names, such as a caregiver or even a pet; the name of a spouse may not always be the most important to work on
Phone calls - make daily phone calls to family or close friends, even if unable to say much. The person receiving the call can acknowledge the communication attempt and use a strategy that works best for the person with aphasia such as asking yes/no or multiple choice questions. This can help increase comfort with using the phone.
Address book - keep an address book up to date. This can help with conversations and allow a person with aphasia to locate a name when trying to tell you about someone. Adding a photo of the person may also be beneficial.
Groceries - the person with aphasia can leave empty packages out (e.g., the milk carton) so someone else is reminded to replace or add to the shopping list.
Clock - use a clock that has moveable hands. The hands can be set to remind the person with aphasia of the time to do something (e.g., move the hands to 2:00 if there is something happening at that time). The hands can also be moved during a conversation to help describe a time that something happened.
Gestures - Family members and the person with aphasia can develop and use gestures that represent people, objects or places (e.g., gesturing with hands the height of a child or gesturing in the direction of someone’s house).
Writing materials – always keep paper and pen handy
Chores - a person with aphasia can still contribute to the household by being responsible for laundry, pet care, dusting, loading or unloading the dishwasher, getting the mail, vacuuming, etc. Starting dinner is also possible by writing down the appropriate time and oven temperature in advance, if necessary.
Newspaper – a person with aphasia can follow the numbers, maps and graphics in the weather section. Newspapers can also help with reading comprehension and conversations about current events. Sometimes the person with aphasia can identify a headline or picture of interest then a family member or caregiver can read or assist them with reading the article. To help with discussing a topic from the newspaper, cut out the heading or write down some key words to help with word finding.
Radio - music in most cases remains familiar and a person with aphasia may even be able to sing along.
Hobbies - many hobbies do not involve much language such as puzzles, solitaire or cards on the computer, bird watching, exercising.
Pictures - “are worth a 1,000 words…” It’s true! Key chains, photo albums, and camera phones are helpful with conversation.
In the Community
Riding in a car, taking public transportation, walking – keep in mind that aphasia affects language and not necessarily memory for directions. A person with aphasia may not be able to tell you where they want to go but they may show you by pointing or gesturing.
Driving - follow the doctor’s recommendations or those from the professional driver’s evaluation (e.g., limit distractions, carry an aphasia identification card)
Information card – it is helpful to have frequently used information on hand (names, phone numbers). Also, having written information prepared in advance at home can be used to improve conversations.
Restaurants – restaurants offer a chance for a person with aphasia to get used to talking with strangers and to practice feeling comfortable going out alone. Ordering may be done independently by pointing to an item or by using picture menus.
Clothing and accessories - wearing something with information (t-shirt with “Grandma” or a cap with college logo) can help people initiate conversations.
Back to Top
