Adler Aphasia Center
Aphasia is the partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from damage to the brain from injury or disease.
Adler Aphasia Center is one of New Jersey’s leading organizations offering those with Aphasia support, resources, and therapy. HFNJ provided the Center two $50,000 grants – one in 2021 and one in 2022 – to support an Outreach Coordinator.
The Outreach Coordinator worked to build productive partnerships with the region’s medical centers, rehabilitation sites, and senior agencies to encourage greater participation by stroke and brain trauma survivors with aphasia and their caregivers in Adler’s West Orange day rehabilitation program and the region’s two Aphasia Communication Groups (Morristown and Scotch Plains).
From October 2021 through September 2023, Adler’s outreach reached an estimated 6,316 people in 364 venues.
Looking back over the last two years of this project, Adler reports that the groups have grown from 23 to 35 (52% increase) West Orange members; from 3 to 6 (100% increase) members from Scotch Plains and Morristown virtual group; and from 4 to 14 (250% increase) caregivers in the caregiver support group. This totals 55 people with aphasia and their caregivers that have been directly served by Adler programming.