Alzheimer's Case Study

According to Nevid (2015), Alzheimer’s is “an irreversible brain disease with a gradual onset that leads to a slow but progressive deterioration of mental functioning involving profound memory loss and impaired judgement and reasoning ability” (p. 362). A significant number of American’s suffer from this demoralizing disease and the number is expected to “more than double to 13.8 million people by the year 2050” (Nevid, p. 363). This disease rips apart the lives of not only the patient but also family, friends, and often caregivers. If you have never had to witness first-hand how brutal Alzheimer’s is, count your blessings. I’ve watched two men that I respected and loved succumb to this disease and I hope to never have that experience again.

The goal is not to overwhelm him with too many choices. Rick can choose up to five separate calendars that group activities together, such as doctor appointments, church group meetings, medications, or social outings. The calendars can be named to help Rick the most. And there is always the option to have all information on one calendar. Reminders can also be set to remind Rick that he needs to check his calendar.
Daily routines: Make a list reminding Rick of his routine from the moment he wakes up; activities like brushing his hair and his teeth and other personal hygiene activities. This includes an option to help Rick dress himself for as long as he is able. The wardrobe of anyone suffering Alzheimer’s should be simple and basic. Take pictures of his clothes and match them together. For example: if Rick wears these (picture of dark slacks) he needs to wear this (picture of matching shirt). These routine reminders can help Rick feel

There are ten to choose from. Games like solitaire, word searches, and matching games.
Exercise: It is very important that Rick move his body. With Ricks help, set up a series of simple exercises.
Personal contact information: Whether Rick, his caregiver, or a stranger needs contact or medicinal information because Rick has lost his way; this option is where you store that information. This icon is at the top of every page and contains all information needed in an emergency, such as phone numbers and the medications he uses (which would be vital if Rick was injured and needed treatment).
This app is not for everyone. As mentioned before, if Rick is in denial he won’t want to bother with this, and there will come a time when this will not help him no matter how much it helped in the past. That is just the nature of this beast called Alzheimer’s. But if Rick accepts what is happening, this app could help him feel more independent and less like a burden at least for a while. Since this disease will eventually strip Rick of everything he knows, shouldn’t we give him a chance to retain his dignity for as long as