Here’s 10 tips for holiday gift-giving in an aphasia-friendly way.
- Instead of a long note or newsletter inside that holiday card, include one or more special photos of the two of you that you can look at to
gether. - Give a framed photo, poster, or painting that expresses your feelings. Or take the time to put together a special photo album or scrapbook.
- Give a creative experience that you can share together. How about a group painting class, a paint-your-own pottery outing or some other fun art class.
- Out at a restaurant, ask for a table in the back room or quietest area of the restaurant. Try to avoid noisy restaurants and large groups.
- When family get together, set up a “communication station” in a quiet room or part of the house. Guest can be invited to each spend some one-on-one time with the person with aphasia with communication tools at hand. That also gives the person with aphasia a break from the loud, fast-paced conversation that is probably going on in the kitchen.
- Plan a musical outing together, and sit quietly enjoying the music.
- Is the person with aphasia in your life a sports nut? A trip to a sports game or a special time for the whole family to watch the sporting event on TV can be fun.
- Arrange for a visit to a museum. Be sure to pick a time when it will be less crowded. Don’t worry about talking about each item; just look together and point out favorite parts.
- Sit quietly together in nature. Take chairs to a park or beach nearby. Enjoy the view or the sunset. You don’t have to fill the time with talk. Listen to the birds and other nature sounds.
- Make it easy for the person with aphasia to say “thank you”. If speech is difficult, hugs are just as good. Or use writing, a communication book or other ways to do it. Give your loved one with aphasia the space and time to do it on his/her own, as much as possible. That’s a great gift, too!