Emma Gray – Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, Royal Devon University Healthcare

 

I find that the support provided by Say Aphasia in our conversation partner scheme is absolutely invaluable. Many of our patients with longstanding aphasia are discharged from the speech and language therapy service into socially isolated situations, due to a shortage of community services in the Mid Devon area.
 
In Mid Devon area, it is difficult for people with aphasia to access opportunities for conversation in the community, and the conversation partner scheme bridges this gap effectively and provides significant and meaningful benefit to those who have accessed the scheme. For the most recent patient who was supported by a conversation partner, he reported positive outcomes including increased confidence, mood and communication skills (increased use of strategies and longer sentences).
 
The volunteers recruited and trained with the support from Say Aphasia are such a valuable addition to the Speech and Language Therapy team and the partners they are matched with in the community.