Article

The purpose of this study was thus to understand significant others' experience of aphasia rehabilitation within the
context of post-stroke rehabilitation. METHODS: Individual interviews were
carried out with 12 significant others of persons who became aphasic as a result
of a stroke and were discharged from rehabilitation in the past 3 months. Data
were analyzed with a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: "Being centered on the
aphasic person" was the core category triggered by the significant other's
perception of the stroke survivor's vulnerability and his/her feelings of
attachment towards that person. Through their interactions with professionals,
significant others assumed that rehabilitation was also centered on the aphasic
person; a perspective that was reinforced. Consequently, significant others
participated in rehabilitation as caregivers and expected rehabilitation to meet
their caregiver needs but not other personal and relational needs. Their
appraisal of rehabilitation was thus related to the satisfaction or not of
caregiver needs. CONCLUSIONS: With a greater sensitivity to significant others
who focus on the stroke survivor and disregard their own needs, rehabilitation
professionals and especially speech-language therapists, can assist families in
reestablishing communication and satisfying relationships which are affected
because of aphasia. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: This qualitative study shows
that significant others of aphasic stroke survivors experience rehabilitation as
services focused on the person who had the stroke. Significant others'
satisfaction with rehabilitation is not related to the fulfillment of their
personal (e.g. resuming their activities) and relational needs (e.g. good
communication with the person with aphasia). When offering interventions
targeting significant others' needs, rehabilitation professionals should
emphasize the rationale for these interventions so that significant others grasp
the intention and potential benefits of these offers.

Langue : ANGLAIS