Distraught

There is a new gentleman who moved into the apartments above my office. I was told before move-in day that while he was able to understand what you were saying he was unable to speak in return due to a stroke. Okay, that's no problem, we'll get something figured out.

It has turned into a problem. When he tries talking to someone all they hear is 'Woo woo woo.' In his head he hears "Excuse me, can you tell me how to find the Assembly Hall?" He also does not fully realize he isn't forming words. At first, I tried the yes-or-no method, thinking that he could help guide my questions and get him where he wanted to go. This didn't work so well on the first two attempts. I also offered him some paper so he could write it down, but no go. My next plan was to make a very basic picture board with general items on it so he could point out what he was trying to talk/ask about, and we could yes-and-no from there. After making up a sheet with 20 or so pictures, I ran it across the director's desk in case he had any suggestions.

He brought it back to me and said that the speech therapy folks had offered him a picture board already, and he didn't want it. He also declined their offer of a notebook to write things out in. The next plan is a sort of phrase book with a bunch of common things in it for him to use. The director did tell me to try again with my own picture board in case the resident had gotten frustrated enough to give it a try.

I offered it this morning (framed as something that would help me, not him, to ease things a bit), and he very clearly does NOT want to use something like that. I told him that I really wanted to find a way for us to communicate because I want to be able to help him find his way around, get his questions answered, all that good stuff. After a few minutes of helpless fumbling by me he just gave up and went on his way. I'm not ashamed to admit I had to take a few minutes to go cry in the bathroom.

I don't know what else to do to help him. I can see that he is frustrated, made worse by the fact that he doesn't know anybody here yet, and everywhere he goes nobody can understand what he is trying to say. I am going to see him at least 3 times a day, and we have hit a wall with our dialogue. It's very disheartening for me.