On Tuesday, June 6, Capital Health held the opening of the Aphasia Support Group Art Show in the Investors Bank Art and Healing Gallery, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, One Capital Way, 2nd floor atrium, Pennington, NJ 08534. The reception welcomed Aphasia Support Group members, their families, Capital Health providers, and administration with more than 60 people in attendance.
Aphasia can occur after a stroke or head injury and impair a person’s ability to express or understand spoken and written language. The Capital Health Aphasia Support Group started out in 2017 as an idea championed by two stroke survivors and several staff members who felt the need to create a support system for people dealing with aphasia as well as their friends and family members. After many months and lots of hard work, the first support group meeting occurred in January, 2018. This group gives participants the opportunity to discuss their experiences, share ideas, form friendships and provide emotional support for one another.
“When I attended my first session, I realized that there are many local people having the same aphasia-related issues that I was going through,” said Chris Conner, an Aphasia Support Group member. “I really appreciate every person I’ve met through this group. I thank Capital Health for organizing and supporting it!”
The stories, poems and artwork on display in the Investors Bank Art and Healing Gallery help members define their journey through the process of understanding, accepting and moving forward with their lives after the life-changing occurrence of aphasia. The artists hope that others will learn and benefit from this information and make journey through aphasia a little easier for others who are experiencing it.
“Art can permeate where no words flow,” said Dr. Eugene McMahon, Chief Medical Officer and chair of the Healing Arts Committee at Capital Health. “Creativity takes courage, and there is no better expression of this courage than the unique and telling forms of art offered by the artists and members of the Capital Health Aphasia Support Group.”
The Aphasia Support Group Art Show runs through August 31, 2023. For more information about this installation and the Healing Arts program at Capital Health, please contact the Capital Health Foundation at (609) 303-4121 or [email protected].