Can people with Alzheimer's disease improve their day-to-day functioning with a tablet computer?

ABSTRACT

New technologies, such as tablet computers, present great potential to support the day-to-day living of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether people with AD can learn how to use a tablet properly in daily life remains to be demonstrated. A single case study was conducted with a 65-year-old woman with AD. A specific and structured intervention tailored to her needs was conceptualised for the use of a calendar application on a tablet computer according to the following learning stages: Acquisition, Application and Adaptation. In spite of her severe episodic memory deficit, she showed progressive learning of the tablet application during the intervention phase. Furthermore, data compiled over 12 months post-use show that she used the tablet successfully in her day-to-day life. She was even able to transfer her newly acquired ability to other available applications designed to monitor regular purchases, consult various recipes and play games. Tablet computers thereby offer a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation for persons with AD. This success was mainly achieved through a one-on-one individual programme tailored to this person. The limits and constraints of utilising tablet computers for persons with AD are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Alzheimer's disease
• tablet computer
• memory deficits
• rehabilitation
• activities of daily living

Acknowledgements

We thank BH for allowing us to use her clinical data in this article so that other persons with Alzheimer's disease may also benefit from such an intervention. We also thank her spouse. We also wish to highlight the contribution of Ms. Claire Létourneau and the support of the Elderly Services and Independent Living Department (DSASA) of the CSSS-IUGS.