At their latest meeting, Riverwood’s Lakes Area Aphasia Support Group welcomed a special guest. Laughter bounced around the room as Aitkin County Sheriff Dan Guida swapped stories, fielded fishing advice, and connected with group members.
For people living with aphasia, interactions with law enforcement can sometimes feel stressful or intimidating. Aphasia — most often caused by stroke or brain injury — affects a person’s ability to speak, understand language, read, or write. In high-stress situations, communication can become even more difficult, turning something routine, like a traffic stop, into an overwhelming experience.
Sheriff Guida came to listen, learn, and talk through those concerns alongside the group. Together, they explored practical ways to make interactions safer and less stressful. He encouraged individuals with aphasia to alert officers to their condition when possible and explained what officers look for during roadside interactions. The group also discussed the importance of carrying a communication card to help first responders better understand their needs.
In return, members shared one simple but powerful request: patience. Aphasia affects language, not intelligence, and sometimes the right words take a little longer to come.
“For people with aphasia, a little patience goes a long way,” said Riverwood Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Bostrom. “When people are given time to find their words, great conversations can happen.”
That spirit of understanding shaped the meeting, a reminder that good communication is less about speaking perfectly and more about taking the time to really listen.
The Lakes Area Aphasia Support Group is open to anyone living with aphasia along with their loved ones. The next meeting will be held July 23 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Conference Room E/F. For more information, contact Amanda Bostrom at 218-927-5580 or abostrom@rwhealth.org.