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Persons with Mild and Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Use Simple Technology to Support Their Leisure Engagement

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Abstract

This study assessed a technology-aided program for supporting leisure occupation in persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Eleven participants were included in the study. At the start of the sessions with the program, a computer presented visually and verbally the leisure options available (i.e., music, comedy, films, and television shows). As soon as the participant selected an option (e.g., music) by activating a simple microswitch, the computer presented three or four related alternatives (e.g., singers). Selection of a singer led the computer to present three or four songs of that singer. Selection of a song led the computer to play it and then to reset for a new choice sequence provided that the session time was not ended. All participants succeeded in using the program, activating leisure events (e.g., songs and comedy sketches), and being positively engaged for most of the sessions’ time. Twenty-two staff who were interviewed about the program provided highly positive scores for it and expressed personal interest in applying it. The technology-aided program seems to be a practical resource to support independent leisure occupation in persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Corso Italia 23, 70121, Bari, Italy

    Giulio E. Lancioni

  2. Department of Special Education, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

    Mark F. O’Reilly

  3. School of Education, University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Jeff Sigafoos

  4. S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello, Italy

    Fiora D’Amico

  5. Alzheimer Center, Bisceglie, Italy

    Katia Pinto

  6. Memory Drops Day Center, Giovinazzo, Italy

    Floriana De Vanna

  7. The Other Home Day Center (Segesta), Bari, Italy

    Antonella Scordamaglia

Authors
  1. Giulio E. Lancioni
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  2. Mark F. O’Reilly
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  3. Jeff Sigafoos
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  4. Fiora D’Amico
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  5. Katia Pinto
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  6. Floriana De Vanna
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  7. Antonella Scordamaglia
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Correspondence to Giulio E. Lancioni.

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Lancioni, G.E., O’Reilly, M.F., Sigafoos, J. et al. Persons with Mild and Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Use Simple Technology to Support Their Leisure Engagement. Adv Neurodev Disord 1, 31–36 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-016-0002-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-016-0002-4

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