Elder Care in Anderson SC

National Aphasia Awareness Month takes place in June, which was established to bring awareness of aphasia to the public nationwide. Aphasia is a language disorder that is a result from damage to the brain and is most common among those adults who have had a stroke in the past. It makes it very difficult to communicate and comprehend words. Reading, using numbers, and being able to complete a thought are all areas that become extremely difficult for someone with aphasia. If your elderly loved one is receiving home care and has previously suffered from a stroke, here are some symptoms and causes of aphasia to look for, as well as how the condition can be treated.

Causes

According to the National Aphasia Association, between 25 percent and 40 percent of adults who have suffered from a stroke end up developing aphasia. Brain tumors, dementia, and an infection in the brain can all be factors that cause this communication disorder.

Symptoms

Aphasia can drastically taking a toll on its victims, making it difficult to care for themselves. Having an elder care provider may be necessary to make it easier to complete everyday tasks. Some of the symptoms to look for include:

• Difficulty speaking
• Unable to find the right words in a conversation
• Using inappropriate or unusual words in a conversation
• Having a difficult time understanding what other people are saying or written words and numbers
• Language skills become worse in a loud environment or when they are tired

While the elder’s language skills will become greatly affected, this disorder will not hinder their thinking skills. However, they will find it challenging to read, use numbers, or participate in a conversation with others.

Treatment

The same treatment option will not work for every person because there are factors that play a role in determining which one is best for your loved one. Some of these factors include the severity of their brain injury, age, the size and location of the brain lesion, and the type of aphasia they have been diagnosed with. The types of aphasia available include:

• Receptive aphasia: Can read or hear a message, but is unable to understand it.
• Expressive aphasia: Knows what they want to say, but is unable to communicate it.
• Global aphasia: Unable to speak, comprehend words, read, or write. This is the most severe form of aphasia.
• Primary progressive aphasia: This is a rare form of aphasia and causes the elder to completely lose the ability to speak, write, read, and understand what is being said by others.
• Anomic aphasia: Struggles to find the right words to write or speak.

Having your loved one’s caregiver or family member transport them to a therapist that specializes in this condition will greatly improve their language skills, but here are some things you can also do to help:

• Use drawings on paper when trying to communicate
• Stay calm and speak slowly
• Use props to communicate your message

Elders with this condition may benefit from elderly care because there is someone constantly available to assist with everyday tasks and bringing to appointments. This information should help you determine if your loved one may have aphasia and what you can do to help.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elder care in Anderson, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/brain/aphasia-causes-symptoms-types-treatments

http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/LifeAfterStroke/RegainingIndependence/CommunicationChallenges/June-is-National-Aphasia-Awareness-Month_UCM_464039_SubHomePage.jsp

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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