An online community for people with aphasia

Summary of the service development
During the Covid-19 pandemic a Danish online aphasia community was made fighting isolation and
loneliness that people with aphasia often experience. For post-pandemic continuation, further
development was needed to form a sustainable online community. Specifically we have aimed at 1)
developing a model for a sustainable online aphasia community; 2) evaluation of the members’
experience, quality of life, and aphasia impact.
The online aphasia community groups has been running for 1,5 years as a part of the Danish Stroke
Association with different group sizes, content and frequency, for example, group meetings with the same
group members, and open groups with topics like news, quiz, arts and culture, parenting or open chats.
The activities are run by people with aphasia and volunteers. Welcoming new members and placing them
in the right groups need work from a staff member. The staff member is now a paid student assistant who
works under the supervision of a qualified speech-language therapist. Volunteers require minimal
supervision of training when they are either SLTs or SLT students.
How this is relevant to other countries and what could be the potential impact across countries
A sustainable model for delivering online aphasia groups includes volunteers, student coordinator and
supervisor and funding to continue to exist is developed and successfully implemented. We hope this
model will inspire other countries to build collaboration between patient organisations and student
volunteers.
How this will improve life after stroke for stroke survivors
The online aphasia community is meaningful and valuable for people with aphasia. We have through
interviews documented great satisfaction with the online community where the members felt at home and
enjoyed the activities and company.