Persons with Alzheimer's disease make phone calls independently using a computer-aided telephone system.
A one-switch, photo-based phone system gives adults with Alzheimer's a quick way to call family without staff help.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Four adults with Alzheimer's disease got a new computer-aided telephone system. A big microswitch sat next to a screen that showed photos of family, friends, and staff.
Each photo worked like a speed-dial button. The adults pressed the switch, tapped a picture, and the computer called that person through a GSM modem.
Researchers used a multiple-baseline design across participants. They wanted to see if the adults could make calls on their own without help.
What they found
All four adults learned the system. They placed calls to family, friends, and staff without anyone reminding them.
The system stayed in their homes. Independence kept up after the study ended.
How this fits with other research
Robertson et al. (2013) ran a near-copy test with post-coma adults instead of Alzheimer's. Same microswitch-and-photo setup, same positive result. This shows the tool works across brain injuries, not just dementia.
Brogård‐Antonsen et al. (2019) also used family photos, but for face-recognition training. Their adult with Alzheimer's learned to match faces after matching-to-sample drills. Perilli et al. (2012) used photos as dialing icons, not for identity tests. Together, the two studies show photos can serve different stimulus-control jobs for the same population.
Green et al. (1986) helped spouses use praise and ignore problem talk. Both papers aim to keep adults with dementia at home, one through low-tech behavior coaching, the other through high-tech calling. The tactics differ, but the goal is the same: maintain independence and avoid nursing-home moves.
Why it matters
If you serve older adults, try adding a single-switch phone with photo buttons. Place pictures of key people on the screen, teach one press-tap sequence, and fade prompts. The adult regains private social contact, and you get an easy data sheet: number of daily calls initiated. No voice-plan setup is needed; a cheap GSM modem does the job.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study assessed whether four patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could make independent phone calls via a computer-aided telephone system. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. All participants started with baseline during which the telephone system was not available, and continued with intervention in which such system was used. It involved a net-book computer provided with specific software, a global system for mobile communication modem (GSM), a microswitch, and photos of the persons available for the phone calls. All participants learned to use the system and made phone calls independently to a variety of partners such as family members, friends and staff personnel. The positive implications of the system were discussed in relation to previous data in this area and the possibility of helping persons with Alzheimer's disease restore an important, instrumental daily ability and engage in communication with distant partners.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2012 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2012.01.007