Home Care in Carmichael CA
Imagine waking up in the morning, turning to your partner, and realizing that you could not form the words that you wanted to say to her. You knew that you wanted to say something, you had an
idea or message that you wanted to communicate, but you did not have the ability to process that into speech. When you are finally able to speak, the words that come out of your mouth do not make any sense and you find yourself unable to form complete sentences that express your thoughts. You decide to try to write down what you are going through so that she understands and can help you, but you are unable to get the words from your mind onto the paper. When you try to read something that is nearby hoping that it could somehow be used to communicate, you realize that you are not able to process the written words either. Your partner then says something to you, and even though you can hear the words that she has said, you do not know what they mean.
This would be a truly unnerving, frustrating, and upsetting situation, and for those seniors who are dealing with aphasia, it is a reality of their day-to-day life. Aphasia is a condition characterized by the inability to communicate verbally as well as the inability to understand spoken or written language, or to write down the language. If this condition has become part of your home care journey with your elderly loved one, it is important that you are able to understand the condition itself so that you can then help your parent communicate more effectively and maintain the ability to express herself in whatever way is possible for her. This will reduce her sense of anxiety and stress, help her to feel connected to you and to the world around her, and ensure that you are able to continue giving her the type of care and assistance that she needs on a daily basis even if she is not able to verbally tell you what she needs, or understand when you ask her a question.
The most common cause of aphasia is stroke or head injury that leads to brain damage, but this condition can also be a symptom of a brain tumor. The extent to which the brain was damaged will impact how severe and long-lasting the aphasia is. Not all people have complete inability to communicate when dealing with this condition. Signs and symptoms that may indicate that your loved one is suffering from aphasia include:
- Suddenly speaking in very short sentences
- Not completing sentences
- Using phrases or sentences that do not make any sense
- Saying unrecognizable words
- Using a word or a sound in place of another
- Not being able to understand when someone says something to them
- Not following conversation effectively
- Not being able to write out thoughts clearly
- Writing down sentences that do not make sense
- Not being able to process what a written message says
A senior who is dealing with this condition is often aware of the issue and may be upset, frustrated, or embarrassed by it. Speech therapy is the most effective form of treatment for the condition, allowing the senior to relearn the language and how to use it. Continuous interaction from you, friends, family members, and her in home health care services provider will help her to regain her ability to communicate more quickly. In the meantime, work with her to develop ways that she can communicate without words, such as by using gestures so that she can still tell you what she needs to even when she is unable to use her words effectively.
If you or an aging loved one needs home care in Carmichael, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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