Over a million people are suffering from Aphasia in the U.S. It is a unique condition that affects one’s ability to communicate accordingly. The communication disorder is often linked to brain damage brought about by dementia, brain tumors, neurological issues, brain injury, and a stroke.
People who have these conditions have a difficult time when it comes to reading and writing. Apart from that, they also struggle to speak and comprehend information. However, the condition is not associated with cognitive damage. Prominent signs of the condition include slowed speech as well as struggling to find appropriate words for self-expression. People with aphasia will also find it hard to follow conversations in addition to being unable to recall the names of previously familiar people.
The condition is highly prevalent among the elderly. Looking after older adults with the condition can be a daunting but achievable task. If you find it overwhelming, you should consider moving your older relative to assisted living in North Valley, NM. Here is why the assisted living community might be the ideal place for those living with aphasia.
Adequate Support
Older adults suffering from the condition need all the support they can get. Assisted living communities have the right experts as well as equipment to help with that. The communities have sustainable measures that help elderly people with the disease to feel a sense of togetherness and enhance their connection with the rest of the residents.
Aphasia often creates language barriers that might send the affected people into isolation as they make them feel different and alone. However, by interacting with other people with the same problem, older adults will develop a sense of belonging.
Welcoming Environment
As much as it might be difficult, older adults with aphasia should be encouraged to make conversation and socialize with other people. The environment in the assisted living community is ideal for people with aphasia as it fosters interaction between the residents. Recent studies have pointed to socialization and conversation as the most effective method to treat aphasia.
Top Notch Expertise
Another intrinsic advantage of moving your older relative to an assisted living community is access to experts and other resources for managing aphasia. The communities feature seasoned therapists alongside speech-language professionals who can assist with the recovery process. Furthermore, the experts will meticulously work with the affected people to improve their communication skills and enhance their speaking ability.
Likewise, they will incorporate props to encourage patients to communicate seamlessly and teach them how to calm down and speak slowly in addition to training them on how to pass messages through drawing and writing.
Careful Assessment
Older adults with aphasia require regular assessment to determine whether they are making a positive recovery from the condition. A proper residential care or retirement community will have adequate measures for evaluation and assessment.
Apart from that, these communities have experts that carefully evaluate the condition to find out whether it is a mere indication of a bigger medical problem like dementia. Most importantly, the evaluation process helps to determine the level of care elderly people with the condition need to offer them sufficient support for a speedy recovery.
There are a lot of benefits that older adults with aphasia can reap from assisted living communities. It is a manageable condition that can be treated with adequate support, qualified experts, and well as a welcoming environment.
