Persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease improve activities and mood via instruction technology.
BACKGROUND
Three studies assessed the (a) effectiveness of verbal instructions presented via technology in helping persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities and (b) impact of activity engagement on mood.


METHODS
The 3 studies targeted coffee preparation with 2 women, use of make-up with 2 women, and use of make-up and tea preparation with 3 women. Intervention effects on activity performance were assessed through nonconcurrent multiple baseline designs across participants or multiple baseline designs across activities. The impact of activity on mood was assessed by recording indices of happiness during activity trials and parallel nonactivity periods.


RESULTS
Verbal instructions presented via technology were effective in helping all participants perform the target activities. The participants also showed mood improvement (ie, increases in indices of happiness) during the activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the approach reported may be a useful strategy for helping persons with Alzheimer's disease.
Lancioni
Giulio E
GE
Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
Singh
Nirbhay N
NN
O'Reilly
Mark F
MF
Sigafoos
Jeff
J
Pangrazio
Maria Teresa
MT
Megna
Marisa
M
Zonno
Nadia
N
La Martire
Maria L
ML
Pinto
Katia
K
Minervini
Mauro G
MG