Perceived Benefits for Family Members of Group Participation by Their Relatives with Aphasia

Purpose: Aphasia impacts family members. Therefore family members may also derive indirect benefits when their relative with aphasia chooses to participate in a group. The current study explored the benefits for family members of their relative with aphasia participating in a variety of types groups post-stroke as perceived by family members and their relatives with aphasia. Methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive research approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen participants: six family members and ten adults with aphasia post-stroke. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation of data sources was used to enhance the rigour of the study. Results: The participants identified 10 benefits that family members may experience as a result of their relative with aphasia participating in various types of groups post-stroke: improves communication between the family member and the individual with aphasia at home, provides support for family members, provides an opportunity for social contact for family members, enables access to aphasia-related information, reduces individual with aphasia’s reliance on the family member for socialization, provides an opportunity for the family member to have time on their own, enables the family member to experience positive feelings, allows family members to focus on their role in the family, provides a meaningful role for the family member, and increases participation for the family member. Conclusions: These indirect benefits may help to address some of the psychosocial, information, communication, and participation needs of family members of individuals with aphasia.