💛 What Caregivers Should Know About Speech Therapy (AARP Article)

[Winter2025VA]

FROM THE ARTICLE.

Caregivers are key partners in supporting speech therapy, reinforcing activities that help their loved ones develop stronger speech and language skills.

By Paul Wynn, AARP. Published September 10, 2025.

After George “Buddy” Scott suffered a stroke while vacationing in the Caribbean in December 2021, his ability to communicate has never been the same. At just 52, George, a former marathon runner and managing director in international investments, was suddenly struck by paralysis on his right side and severe aphasia, a language disorder that stole his ability to speak.

Since then, his wife Karen has become her husband’s caregiver and his partner in speech therapy, learning techniques from speech therapists, researching treatments and pushing for new ways to help her husband communicate better. From their home base in San Diego, where they moved from New Jersey to access advanced therapy, Karen has taken on the role of daily speech coach, advocate and motivator to help George find new words.​“ George has the vocabulary inside him; it’s just hard for the words to come out,” says Karen. “When he’s able to put together even a short sentence, it reminds us that his voice is still there, and that gives us hope and keeps us going.

USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/medical/speech-therapy/