Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
well-known numbers and she can prepare food if her daughter suggests the procedure
and quantity. She performs light daily tasks such as dishwashing and bed-making, but
she has difficulty with laundry because she cannot choose the appropriate setting for the
washing machine. She is not capable of dispensing her own medication because she has
difficulty with recall. She undertakes limited travel in an automobile with the assistance of
another person because she has problems with spatial orientation. Mrs. A.B. can also carry
out simple activities such as paying in and withdrawing money from the bank. A familiar
presence, stimulation, and activities seem to have a remissive effect on her depressive and
apathetic symptoms. Mrs. A.B. sometimes seems anosognosic, but she refuses to have an
external caregiver. In fact, for several weeks, a caregiver frequented the patient's home, but
Mrs. A.B. presents delusions of jealousy.
•
Motor evaluation:
The present conditions of her motor condition are good. The
patient is able to maintain a sitting position without support and to realize posi-
tion transfers. Mrs. A.B. is able to maintain an erect position autonomously and
she can walk without support. Pendular movements are present. The upper limbs
present mobility and can be used for functional activities.
•
Neuropsychological test:
Mrs. A.B. is watchful, and she cooperates. She has dif-
ficulties in paying attention for longer periods; difficulties in shifting attention
between different situations; and difficulties in planning actions, organizing her
time, and in executing actions. She has spatial orientation impairment. Her epi-
sodic, semantic, and perspective memory are compromised. She can read and
understand words, sentences, simple and complex orders, and short texts. She
can produce short speeches, but her production is interrupted by frequent bouts
of anomia. She can copy simple figures but she has difficulties with complex
models. Her performance in concept formation and reasoning is within the nor-
mal limits.
•
Communication strategy:
She has the ability to communicate.
•
Evaluation of visual, perceptive, and motor functions:
She has no visual, perceptive, or
motor impairments.
•
Aids and assistance:
At the moment, Mrs. A.B. has neither aids nor assistance.
•
Request:
Aids and assistance in monitoring health status, medication adherence,
and support with the IADLs.
13.8.1 The role of the geriatrician in the ATA Process for the User A.B.
Mrs. A.B. is monitored by a geriatric center for the evolution of the disease and
pharmacological treatment. In this case, the input data come from a CGA procedure, and
the geriatrician at the center for technical aid has information regarding her medical,
cognitive, affective, functional, environmental, social support, economic, spiritual, and
advance directive domains.
Table 13.2 shows the correspondence between the dimensions of the geriatrician
assessment and the ICF codes; Figure 13.2 illustrates the patient's profile from the point of
view of the biopsychosocial model.
If the multidisciplinary team decides there are sufficient data for a matching process,
then the selection of the proper technological aid is pursued. Because Alzheimer's
disease is a progressive illness, an assistive solution requires monitoring adherence to
pharmacological treatment by supporting the ADLs in a periodical follow-up.
