Aphasia flash cards

[Caro2342]

My husband has been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s and Aphasia. We struggle to communicate and I have been told there are flash cards available which could help him let me know what he wants to communicate. Does anyone know about these and where I can get them from please?

 

[Izzy]

Welcome to the forum @Caro2342

I’ve no experience of using these cards but I had a look on Amazon just now and they list quite a few for purchase.

I wondered if your husband has had a referral to a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT). SALT should be able to provide this kind of thing for you.

 

[Sarasa]

Welcome to Dementia Talking Point @Caro2342.
Is this the sort of thing you were looking for?

Helpcards to support people with memory problems or dementia

Helpcards are for people with dementia or memory problems. They can make it easier for the person to get support when they’re out in the community.

www.alzheimers.org.uk

This is a very friendly and supportive forum and I'm sure people who have used them or know more about the topic will be along soon with their input.

 

[Izzy]

I had another look and wondered if this kind of thing would be what you’re looking for.

Flash cards for Seniors.

 

[Weasell]

My husband has been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s and Aphasia. We struggle to communicate and I have been told there are flash cards available which could help him let me know what he wants to communicate. Does anyone know about these and where I can get them from please?

We use things called widgets.
They are used for picture exchange ( bring me a picture of the item and I will give you the real item)

So I might prepare a ‘now and next ‘ board with someone.
They choose the activity, task, food, whatever you want.

Don’t forget you can aways make your own by taking photos and buying a cheap laminator. Rolls of Velcro can be purchased from craft shops or online.I actually think photos work well with dementia. So it’s not a generic cartoon type drawing of a bed , it’s a picture of the bed they use.

Also you can laminate photos of the contents of cupboards and stick the laminate on the door. So you can see at a glance what the cupboard contains?
This was a dismal failure with my mother, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

@Izzy suggestion to contact the salt team is a great idea!

 

[sdmhred]

Thanks for raising this. My mum’s aphasia is progressing and she’s now struggling with sentences which frustrates her. Sometimes she can’t even tell me the food she wants so I shall be thinking how I might be able to use these in the future! Great idea 👍

 

[Caro2342]

Welcome to the forum @Caro2342

I’ve no experience of using these cards but I had a look on Amazon just now and they list quite a few for purchase.

I wondered if your husband has had a referral to a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT). SALT should be able to provide this kind of thing for you.

I have looked at the Amazon ones but they don’t seem to cover enough words. I am waiting for contact with a SALT therapist but as he gets anxious when he can’t make me understand what he wants to tell me, I thought I would try to get some. An alternative would be to try to create some of my own . . .

 

[Caro2342]

We use things called widgets.
They are used for picture exchange ( bring me a picture of the item and I will give you the real item)

So I might prepare a ‘now and next ‘ board with someone.
They choose the activity, task, food, whatever you want.

Don’t forget you can aways make your own by taking photos and buying a cheap laminator. Rolls of Velcro can be purchased from craft shops or online.I actually think photos work well with dementia. So it’s not a generic cartoon type drawing of a bed , it’s a picture of the bed they use.

Also you can laminate photos of the contents of cupboards and stick the laminate on the door. So you can see at a glance what the cupboard contains?
This was a dismal failure with my mother, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

@Izzy suggestion to contact the salt team is a great idea!

Thanks for that, I will certainly give it a try. Real pictures sounds a good idea, and I have a friend who has a laminator,

 

[Lawson58]

Thanks for that, I will certainly give it a try. Real pictures sounds a good idea, and I have a friend who has a laminator,

A friend used a felt board and pictures glued on to cardboard (you could laminate them) with a small piece of felt on the back to stick on to the board. She used pictures from magazines mostly and her husband and she spent quite a lot of time together choosing and making the pictures.

She would leave a lot on the board for general communication or could reduce the number if she needed him to select an option eg, tea, coffee, juice?

Later, the grandchildren enjoyed playing with it.

 

[Izzy]

When I was working we used this system in our additional needs support base. Again it might not have the range of words you need -

PECS Resources - SEN Tools for Teachers & Parents

PECS resources, learning materials & curriculum support. Improving the skills & lives of those with communciation difficulties.

pecs-unitedkingdom.com

Perhaps it would be a good idea to make your own so that you have a set designed to meet his needs.