Loss of Intimacy: A Cost of Caregiving in Aphasia

The sudden loss of intimacy can have a dramatic effect on satisfaction in a relationship. As many caregivers shift roles and try to personally adjust to their new reality, a steep drop in intimacy can often simultaneously occurs. Aphasia presents a significant barrier to opening discussions about intimacy and sexual contact. The purpose of this article is to discuss the current literature regarding intimacy in aphasia and present solutions for addressing this complex issue. One of the simplest solutions to addressing this gap in care is having rehabilitation professionals introduce these topics early in the rehabilitation process. This is optimally achieved through interdisciplinary training in the use of effective supported communication strategies for persons with aphasia. Another solution is to create community-centered events that allow couples to address issues related to intimacy after rehabilitation ends. This article describes one such program, an Aphasia Couples Retreat, ran as a collaboration between a local nonprofit and university program in the Pacific Northwest. The retreat provides couples with the opportunity to discuss and address issues related to intimacy, learn new skills, and gain support from an interdisciplinary team of students, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.