Aphasia Centers and the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia

Abstract

The Aphasia Center is a service delivery model that provides an interactive community for persons with aphasia. This model has been increasing in popularity over the last 20 years. Aphasia Centers are consistent with a social model of health care and disability. They offer the potential for linguistic, communicative, and psychosocial benefits. The purpose of this article is to describe the historical context that served as the catalyst for Aphasia Centers as well as to offer a firsthand account of their development. Included is a summary of the research evidence, as well as other factors that support the science underlying aphasia group treatment, Aphasia Centers, and the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia. Finally, examples are provided that show how this service delivery model is being incorporated into clinical guidelines, clinical pathways, and clinical best practices.

The Relationship Between Confrontation Naming and Story Gist Production in Aphasia

“…The usefulness of picture naming assessment in the evolving landscape of outcome reprioritization is in question. In response to emphasis placed on activity and participation by the World Health Organization (2007) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework and the complementary Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (Chapey et al, 2001;Elman, 2016;Simmons-Mackie & Kagan, 2007), developers and providers of aphasia treatment are encouraged to adopt a life and social participation approach when planning treatment and measuring outcomes. This is further fueled by a recent focus on stakeholder input into outcomes, in which PWAs, caregivers, and providers consistently identify activity and participation goals (e.g., participation in life roles, participation in leisure, improved psychosocial well-being, increased autonomy) in addition to language and/or communication goals as priorities (Brown, Worrall, Davidson, & Howe, 2012;Wallace et al, 2016b;Worrall et al, 2011).…”

Achieving Participation-Focused Intervention Through Shared Decision Making: Proposal of an Age- and Disorder-Generic Framework

“…Logistical aspects of clinical services such scheduling, session length, treatment location, and other features of treatment also need to be more flexible to implement patient-centered approaches. Some programs, largely in university clinics or freestanding community clinics, have been able to exercise that flexibility to initiate group programs, centers, and other community programs (Byrd et al, 2016;Elefant, Baker, Lotan, Lagesen, & Skeie, 2012;Elman, 2016;Glista & Pollens, 2007;Mackenzie, Paton, Kelly, Brady, & Muir, 2012;Ross, Winslow, & Marchant, 2006;Shih et al, 2012;N. Simmons-Mackie & Holland, 2011).…”

Issue Editor Foreword

“…Elman (2016) describes the concept of the community-based Aphasia Center, which, consistent with the principles of the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA Project Group, 2000), offers a choice of programs to foster group interaction and involvement in activities typical of daily life. In addition to providing a historical context for the development of this service model, Elman (2016) provides personal reflections on the important components that should be addressed during the management of aphasia.…”