Letter in the Charleston Daily Newspaper, Charleston, W.Va.

Dear Editor,

I would like to share my experience and some information with our community. I am the sole caregiver of my father who has dementia and aphasia. For those who are not experienced with the definition of these conditions I will explain them first. Dementia is the loss of ones cognitive or intellectual functioning. It can include losing the ability to completing tasks as common as remembering our name to completing complicated math equations. It affects problemsolving and judgement as well. Aphasia is a communciation disorder that inhibits a person to use or understand spoken or written words.
As we live in a time where people are living longer, there is a guarantee that we all may come to a time in our lives where we must be caregivers to an elderly loved one. Although there are alternatives to caring for these loved ones besides in our own homes, there are several people who are willing to make the sacrifice to do this. Some common reasons can even be due to guilt or fear of their loved one not receiving the proper care.
These are the reasons I am writing to you today. I would like to make available the information these individuals may need should they choose to have their loved cared for at home. The resources to obtain this information can be found in the following websites.
www.duq.edu/ancds
www.asha.org
www.aphasiahope.org
www.aphasia.org
There is no doubt that the education of family members about aphasia and affective communication strategies has a significant positive affect on the patient and caregiver relationship. This in turn can have a positive affect on the patients quality of life and the caregivers overall capability of maintaining their care at home. I am part of an advocacy group for caregiver education that meets every other week at a local church. We hope to provide our community with a newsletter that will contain information to guide caregivers that are experiencing the obstacles of taking care of their loved ones at home. I would appreciate it if you could print this letter or just the information contained in it to let people know there is help out there, if you know where to look. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mildred Hodges, caregiver

Finding Strength
arranged by Mildred Hodges, caregiver
Found The Caregiver by Gwen Tremain Runyard, caregiver
Found Coffee, Sugar, Light by Kathy Bigos

As I sit with you in pensive silence
because you no longer speak,
a conversation flows between us
each time our eyes can meet.
Your smile, your laugh and hugs
are all that you can express
I cherish every gesture
because that is all that I have left.
I watch your expression change
as you disappear in thought,
for not only has your voice gone
but your mind is also lost.
I read some words in a poem today
called Coffee, Sugar, Light,
it reminded me of old habits
that are no longer a part of your life.
Because now you fall into patterns
that only you can see,
Then tumble into darkness
people, places, me.
The poet asks if you hear the voice of god
though your ears are weak,
is there a place in the confusion
where he can clearly speak?
I know that you are frightened
I have seen your teardrops start
I wish that I could reach you
Please feel me in your heart.
But I will sing to you each visit
until the day your gone
because just maybe somewhere deep inside
you will recognize the song.
I will not live in pity
but be thankful for the time
and I promise to live content dad
each memory will become sublime.

My essential question is:

How does aphasia coupled by dementia affect the quality of communication and success of caregiving responsibilities between patients and their caregivers?

1. What is aphasia?

2. What is dementia?

3. How does aphasia affect adult communication in patients suffering from dementia?

4. What type of communication compensations can be taught to caregivers and patients with aphasia and dementia to make caregiving more positive and successful?

5. What part can Speech Therapists play in coordinating quality care plans for adults suffering from aphasia and dementia and their caregivers?

Tentative Point

Quality caregiver responses depend on the caregiver’s understanding of aphasia and dementia. This will reduce misinterpreting the illness which leads to overwhelmed caregiving responsibilities. Education and compensation strategies regarding communication will avoid inappropriate caregiver responses, which may exacerbate a patients already uncomfortable situation.

Genres
Webliography- Authors voice
Powerpoint - Speech Therapist voice
Poem - Caregiver voice
Interview transcript - Spouse Caregiver of the Client
Newsletter -
Editorial - Caregiver

These are not completely set in stone, with the exception of the powerpoint and the poem.

Integration
I hope to integrate the genres in a story I would like to include in my preface. I'm still trying to decide if this will be redundant because I am writing a story in my webliography also.

Resources

http://www.aagponline.org/prof/position_dementia.asp

Resource: Eric
Keyword: Dementia
Coogle,Constance.L. (2002) The families who care project; meeting the educational needs of african american and rural family caregivers dealing with dementia. Educational Gerontology, 28 (1) 59-72. Retrieved July 13, 2002 Eric database.

Resource: Academic Search Elite
Keyword: Aphasia
Fedorov, Emilie M. (2001) Helping patients with aphasia. Journal of Nursing, 101 (1) 24-27. Retrieved July 13, 2002 Academic Search Elite database.

Resource: Academic Search Elite
Keyword: Aphasia
Sundin, Karin; Norberg, Astrid; Jansson, Lilian. (2001) The meaning of skilled care providers relationship with stroke and aphasia patients. Qualitative Health Research, 11 (3) 308-320. Retrieved July 13, 2002 Academic Search Elite.

Resource: Academic Search Elite
Keyword: Aphasia
Tranel, Daniel (2001) Combs, ducks, and the brain. Lancet, 357 (9271) 1818-1819. Retrieved July 13, 2002 Academic Search Elite database.

Resource: Academic Search Elite
Keyword: Aphasia
Zraick, RI; Boone, D.R. (1991) Spouses attitudes toward the person with aphasia. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 34 (1) 123-128. Retrieved July 13, 2002 Academic Search