Abstract
In this chapter we describe a particular intervention, Early Memory Loss Clubs, that we believe exemplify the type of intervention needed for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD). We summarize the current status of medical management of ADRD and provide a brief introduction to non-Âpharmacological approaches to ADRD intervention and management.
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Notes
- 1.
A meta-analysis is a comprehensive review of articles, all concerned with a specific topic, in which statistical techniques are used to estimate the overall magnitude of the intervention being considered.
- 2.
Effect sizes (ESs) are standardized indicators of the strength of an effect associated with an intervention, e.g., increases in scores on a cognitive test after treatment with a particular medication. Cohen’s d is the most commonly used measure of ESs. In the social sciences, small, medium, and large ESs are, respectively, 0.20, 0.50, 0.80 (Cohen, 1992).
- 3.
Einberger and Sellick (2007). Copies of the manual can be obtained, free of charge, from the Brookdale Foundation by calling 212-308-7355.
- 4.
Successful club facilitators have come from a variety of educational backgrounds. Social workers, recreation therapists, teachers in the field of aging, and speech therapists are perhaps best suited to be club facilitators. Facilitators should have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree that provides them with knowledge and experience regarding how to interact with elders, especially those with cognitive impairments.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Asenath LaRue, Ph. D., Paula Hartman-Stein, Ph. D., and Linda R. Rechlin, B. A., who provided review and comment during the preparation of this manuscript. The Helen Bader Foundation (Milwaukee, WI; http://www.hbf.org) provided financial support to conduct the study. Other financial support was provided by the Parkinson Research Institute, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI. Finally, the authors thank the research volunteers with ADRD who participated in our study of memory loss programs, and who made our research and preparation of this chapter possible.
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Fritsch, T., Smyth, K.A., Wallendal, M.S., Einberger, K., Geldmacher, D.S. (2011). Early Memory Loss Clubs: A Novel Approach for Stimulating and Sustaining Cognitive Function. In: Hartman-Stein, P., LaRue, A. (eds) Enhancing Cognitive Fitness in Adults. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0636-6_22
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