A case study of cognitive-educational support for elderly female with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Care and support for elderly persons is crucial issue for any cultural ground and any country. Special pedagogue (Special educator) in contemporary Polish university realities is person who has learnt while studies and qualified about support of persons with disabilities during life cycle. This mean, special pedagogue is or can be prepared to support persons since early childhood until late adulthood. This article is non-clinical, ethno-educational case study of individual, cognitive-educational, home-based support, conducted for 30 months by undergraduate female student for female diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The case study is description and analysis of individual home-based, cognitive-educational support as an alternative to day-care facilities group support. Study neither examines the influence nor gives quantitative assessment of cognitive-educational support. The study and support raised in the beginning one question: what is the proper way of home-based cognitive-educational support for female in first stage of AD? In the case study two key informants participated: Fiona Fiedler age 77,who received regular cognitive-educational support and her husband Fred Fiedler. The 3rd informant was Roksana Urban herself who had two roles: data collector as participant observer and regular support person working with Fiona. Personal data of study participants was coded and encrypted by me, ensuring level of wellbeing for participants and ethical considerations of data collection. The results indicate that individual, home-based cognitive-educational support was proper alternative to the day-care based cognitive group treatments. Case study also indicates the importance of home-based support for spouse of person with AD - Fred Fiedler. Moreover, results indicate general positive attitudes to cognitive-educational support and wellbeing of Fiona Fiedler with AD while disease makes progress.