Stroke survivors with aphasia: personal experiences of coming home

Abstract

Although communication difficulties affect a significant number of stroke survivors, specialist stroke follow-up in the community may not always be available. It is therefore vital that community nurses have the skills and confidence not only to engage well with stroke patients with communication difficulties in their daily work, but also to encourage their inclusion in research and other projects. This article reports on the experiences of a small sample of stroke survivors and their carers during the first month at home following discharge from hospital. Their journey involved discovering and adapting to new situations and abilities. The article also details how participants with virtually no speech can be included in research studies.