title: Living successfully with aphasia: family members share their views.
abstract: Language and lifestyle changes experienced following the onset of aphasia extend beyond the individual to impact family members of persons with aphasia. Research exploring the meaning of living successfully with aphasia has explored the perspectives of individuals with aphasia and speech-language pathologists. Family members' views of living successfully with aphasia may also contribute valuable insights into positive adaptive processes and factors that may influence clinical interventions and community-based services for individuals with aphasia and their families.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore, from the perspectives of family members of individuals with aphasia, the meaning of living successfully with aphasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four family members (nominated by individuals with aphasia) participated in semistructured in-depth interviews about living successfully with aphasia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify themes relating to the meaning of living successfully with aphasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven themes were identified from analysis of family member participant transcripts: getting involved in life, support for the person with aphasia, communication, family members' own needs, putting life in perspective, focusing on and celebrating strengths and improvements, and experiences with services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings provide evidence to support previous research indicating that aphasia affects the whole family and not just an individual. The inclusion of family members as part of the rehabilitation team is indicated. Family members' needs and priorities must be considered in conceptualizing living successfully with aphasia to ensure family members are included in intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation and Communication Disability Centre, Division of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Kyla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Worrall
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Tami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000379:methods