Educational Support Group Program for Carepartners of Bilingual and Spanish-speaking Persons With Progressive Forms of Aphasia and for Persons With Progressive Forms of Aphasia
The current study aims to examine the benefits of an education/support group program for individuals with progressive aphasia (caused by various etiologies, diagnoses) and their carepartners. The current study utilizes pre-, post-treatment, and follow-up assessments to measure effects of a psychoeducational support group and an implementation/communication skills training phase on measures of psychosocial function, communicative effectiveness and speech/language function. Analysis of study-specific surveys and semi-structured interviews will provide qualitative data regarding outcomes. Before beginning the education and support group, focus groups will be run in order to set priorities for the themes to be included in the education program. Participants will join via tele-based means if preferred and these participants may reside in the United States, or internationally including Mexico and Spain.
⁃ All participants must:
• speak Spanish and/or English (although participants may speak other languages in addition to Spanish and/or English)
• identify as Hispanic and/or Latinx,
• or their spouse/family member with PA identifies as Hispanic and/or Latinx
• see and hear well enough to participate
• have access to a computer or mobile device with video capability
• have an internet connection
⁃ Additional inclusion criteria for PA/ language-led dementia support group participants:
• Individuals with PA:
• Has a diagnosis of PA, or language-led dementia, and aphasia is one of the primary causes of difficulty with activities of daily living
• Aware of language difficulties and willing to discuss them
• Able to actively engage in group discussion and complete activities with minimal support
• Able to regularly attend meetings
• Willing to follow the rules of the support group for interacting with others respectfully
⁃ Additional inclusion criteria for care partner support group plus implementation phase participants:
• Individuals with PA:
• Diagnosis of aphasia or dementia that is progressive in nature, and aphasia is one of the primary causes of difficulty with activities of daily living
• Have some ability to communicate and understand communication in order to participate in training sessions
• Are functionally able to engage in training sessions (e.g., able to maintain some attention, minimal challenging behavior that would cause disruption)
• Have a care partner who also consents to participating in the project
• Care partners:
• Self-identification as a caregiver of an individual with a diagnosis of PA or language-led dementia
• Willing to discuss caregiving for individuals with PA/ language-led dementia
• Able to regularly attend meetings
• Willing to follow the rules of the support group for interacting with others respectfully