| If you are the caregiver for a person recovering | | | | - Join a book club. Contact your local library, |
| from aphasia, you should try to provide as many | | | | university, or ask some friends to help find a |
| opportunities for social interaction as you can. | | | | book club. Reading and sharing common ideas can |
| Studies have shown and personal experience will | | | | be a great way to practice communicating and |
| reveal that social interaction is vitally important to | | | | socializing. |
| aphasia recovery. One of the most common | | | | - Go to church, synagogue, mosque or other |
| complaints among aphasia victims is the feeling of | | | | house of worship. If you are or have been a past |
| social isolation. | | | | member, go to the weekly assemblies and |
| The following ideas are suggestions on how to | | | | interact with other people. These places should be |
| promote socializaation for the aphasic person: | | | | full of supportive, loving people. Make your fellow |
| - Find an Aphasia Support Group. Contact your | | | | members aware of the situation and get involved! |
| local speech therapist for information on where to | | | | - Join or start a Supper Club or cooking group. |
| find a group. If contacting a local speech therapist | | | | Meet with a regular group of people monthly to |
| is not an option, go to the National Aphasia | | | | share dinner and enjoy each other's company. |
| Association website for information on local | | | | Getting an aphasic person to socialize again can be |
| chapters. The National Aphasia Association also | | | | a huge challenge. Communication for them can be |
| has state representatives that may be able to | | | | difficult and laborious. An aphasic person may feel |
| help direct you to a local group. | | | | embarrassed about their limited abilities. |
| - If you cannot find an Aphasia Support Group, | | | | No matter the excuse, getting back into normal |
| try to find a Stroke Recovery Group. Again, ask | | | | daily social settings is crucial to a meaningful |
| you local health care provider (ie. speech therapist, | | | | recovery. Socialization can improve moods and |
| physical therapist, occupational therpaist, etc.). | | | | create a more balanced return to daily living. |
| - Find a friend or neighbor to volunteer to assist | | | | The return to normal social settings will be |
| with practicing communication skills. A simple | | | | uncomfortable and will require extra effort and |
| conversation can be very therapeutic. A schedule | | | | motivation by the primary caregiver. It will not be |
| of some sort should be established to provide | | | | easy. If you are a relative or friend that is not |
| another source of interaction and communication | | | | the primary caregiver, you could make a big |
| in addition to that of the primary caregiver or | | | | impact by helping your loved one in this area of |
| immediate family. | | | | aphasia recovery. |