The Recreation Therapist for Always Home Adult Day Centres (Andrea Leahey) has co-authored an article with Dr. Jerry Singleton from Dalhousie University titled “Utilizing Therapeutic Recreation to Empower Persons with Alzheimer’s in a Day Center”. This article was recently published in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal Vol. XLV, No. 2, 2011.
The article is a case study that highlights the experience of one man with Alzheimer’s Disease attending an Adult Day Program (ADP). Based upon this individual’s leisure interests, health, skills and abilities a care plan was developed for him. The care plan included participation in Nintendo Wii Bowling and after several weeks it was noted by the Recreation Therapist that the individual was more focused and required less physical/verbal cueing. It was also noted by this individual’s wife that he was more focused at home, had a reduction in repetitive story-telling, and was able to take up leisure activities that, prior to attending the ADP, he had no longer been able to do.
The results of this case study are based upon just one individual’s experience; however it does provide support for programs like this one that help individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease who live at home, as well as their caregivers.