Persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease use verbal-instruction technology to manage daily activities: Effects on performance and mood

Abstract

Objective To extend the evaluation of verbal-instruction technology for helping persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease recapture daily activities and improve their mood. Methods Two studies targeted two activities (i.e. snack preparation/sharing and shaving) with six and three new participants, respectively. Intervention effects on activity performance were assessed through non-concurrent multiple baseline designs across participants. The impact of intervention (activity) on mood was assessed by recording indices of happiness or indices of unhappiness during activity and non-activity trials. Results The use of a technology providing verbal instructions helped all participants perform the target activities. Performance was largely accurate with seven of the participants. Eight of the participants also showed mood improvement (i.e. increases in indices of happiness or decreases in indices of happiness) during activity. Conclusion These results suggest that the approach reported may be a useful strategy for helping persons with Alzheimer's disease enhance their activity and mood.