Self-Care for Aphasia Caregivers: You Matter Too
Caring for someone with aphasia—a language disorder that affects communication—can be deeply rewarding. It’s also incredibly demanding. While the focus often centers on the person living with aphasia, the caregiver's well-being is just as important. If you’re a caregiver, your health, energy, and emotional stability play a key role in the long-term recovery and quality of life for your loved one. But here’s a truth you might need to hear:
You matter too.
This article is for the quiet heroes—family members, friends, and partners—supporting someone with aphasia day in and day out. It’s a reminder that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential.
What Aphasia Caregivers Go Through
Aphasia affects more than speech. It can change how your loved one understands, processes, and responds to the world. As a caregiver, you may find yourself doing any or all of the following:
● Translating or interpreting speech for them
● Helping them practice language exercises
● Managing appointments, therapies, medications
● Navigating emotions like frustration, grief, or isolation
● Acting as their advocate in medical or social settings
This emotional labor is heavy. Often unpaid, usually untrained, and rarely acknowledged, caregivers are vulnerable to burnout, anxiety, and depression—especially if they neglect their own needs.
Signs You May Be Neglecting Yourself
You may not notice the toll until it’s overwhelming. Here are some common signs that you're running on empty:
● Exhaustion, even after sleep
● Feeling irritable, anxious, or numb
● Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
● Frequent illness or physical complaints
● Withdrawing from friends or hobbies
● Feeling guilty when you take time for yourself
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone—and it's time to reset.
Why Self-Care Is Non-Negotiable
Taking care of yourself isn't a luxury. It's what enables you to keep showing up for your loved one in a sustainable way.
Here’s what happens when you prioritize self-care:
● Your emotional resilience grows
● You make clearer, more thoughtful decisions
● You reduce the risk of caregiver burnout
● You maintain your own identity outside of the caregiving role
● You model healthy boundaries and emotional expression for your loved one
The bottom line? Everyone benefits when caregivers care for themselves.
Practical Self-Care Strategies for Aphasia Caregivers
Let’s talk about what works—small but powerful steps you can take to improve your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
1. Set Realistic Expectations
Your loved one’s progress may be slow, uneven, or unpredictable. Some days will be harder than others. Accepting this reality doesn’t mean giving up—it means preserving your energy for what you can control.
Try this:
Make a list of 3 things you can do today. Let go of the rest.
2. Create a Support Network
Don’t isolate yourself. Caregiving can be lonely, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Try this:
● Join an online or local aphasia caregiver support group
● Connect with a speech-language pathologist for guidance
● Ask a friend to check in with you weekly
● Let others help—even if it’s just picking up groceries
3. Schedule “You Time” (Without Guilt)
Block off time in your calendar that’s just for you—and protect it like a doctor’s appointment.
Try this:
● Take a walk without your phone
● Watch a show you enjoy
● Spend 20 minutes reading or journaling
● Do nothing. Literally, rest.
This isn't indulgent—this is recovery.
4. Move Your Body
Exercise isn’t just about fitness. It clears your mind, reduces anxiety, and releases stress.
Try this:
● Stretch while your loved one naps
● Follow a 10-minute workout video online
● Dance while making dinner
● Walk around the block—even once helps
Consistency is more important than intensity.
5. Find Moments of Joy
Caregiving can feel heavy. Injecting moments of lightness is a form of emotional CPR.
Try this:
● Keep a “tiny joys” notebook: jot down small good things daily
● Play music in the house
● Laugh at a funny video
● Share a memory with your loved one—even if they can’t respond
6. Seek Professional Help (For You)
You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Counseling can help you process grief, frustration, or identity changes that come with caregiving.
Try this:
● Ask your doctor for a mental health referral
● Look for a therapist who specializes in caregiver stress
● Consider teletherapy for convenience
7. Stay Informed, Not Overwhelmed
Knowledge helps you feel in control—but doomscrolling or obsessing over recovery timelines doesn’t.
Try this:
● Set a limit: 30 minutes a week to read articles or watch videos
● Stick to reputable sources (e.g., National Aphasia Association)
● Ask your loved one’s therapists direct questions instead of Googling
8. Celebrate the Small Wins
Progress might not look like it used to. Recognizing even the tiniest improvements can fuel both you and your loved one.
Try this:
● Keep a progress journal
● Celebrate with a treat or a simple high-five
● Share wins with your support group or online forum
Rebuilding Identity Outside the Caregiver Role
Caregiving is something you do. It’s not all you are.
Don’t let your world shrink around your loved one’s condition. You’re still a friend, a spouse, a parent, a neighbor, a professional. Maintaining those identities protects your sense of self and emotional health.
Try this:
● Make time weekly for non-caregiving conversations or activities
● Reconnect with hobbies, however briefly
● Remind yourself: “I’m more than a caregiver. I’m a whole person.”
Final Thoughts
Being there for someone with aphasia takes heart, patience, and strength. But no matter how strong you are, you still have limits—and you still need care.
The goal isn’t to be perfect. The goal is to stay well enough to keep going, and to live your own life fully—even in the midst of caregiving.
So take the break. Make the call. Ask for help. Say no. Say yes to yourself.
Because you matter too.
If you're part of the Anywhere Speech & Language family and supporting someone with aphasia, know this: we’re here for them, and we’re here for you, too.
Want more caregiver resources or to speak with a therapist who understands your situation?
Contact us today →