Technology-aided leisure and communication: Opportunities for persons with advanced Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated whether simple technology-aided programs could be used to promote leisure and communication engagement in three persons with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Method: The programs included music and video options, which were combined with (a) text messaging and telephone calls for the first participant, (b) verbal statements/requests, text messaging, and reading for the second participant, and (c) verbal statements/requests and prayers for the third participant. The participants could activate those options via hand movement or vocal emission and specific microswitches. Results: All three participants were successful in activating the options available. The mean cumulative frequencies of option activations were about five per 15-min session for the first two participants and about four per 10-min session for the third participant. Conclusion: The results were considered encouraging and relevant given the limited amount of evidence available on helping persons with advanced Parkinson’s disease with leisure and communication.

Keywords:

• Communication
• leisure engagement
• Parkinson’s disease
• technology-aided programs

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.