title: Persons with Alzheimer's disease make phone calls independently using a computer-aided telephone system.
abstract: This study assessed whether four patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could make independent phone calls via a computer-aided telephone system. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. All participants started with baseline during which the telephone system was not available, and continued with intervention in which such system was used. It involved a net-book computer provided with specific software, a global system for mobile communication modem (GSM), a microswitch, and photos of the persons available for the phone calls. All participants learned to use the system and made phone calls independently to a variety of partners such as family members, friends and staff personnel. The positive implications of the system were discussed in relation to previous data in this area and the possibility of helping persons with Alzheimer's disease restore an important, instrumental daily ability and engage in communication with distant partners.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cordiano
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Mauro G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: Doretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003142:Communication; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013689:Telephone / Q000295:instrumentation*