Portal of the elderly: development of a virtual learning environment with focus on Alzheimer's Disease and the demage in communication

Abstract

The communication can be modified by several pathologies such as those involving the dementia process, given the prevalence to Alzheimer's disease (AD). When dealing with a complex insidious, progressive degenerative situation whose magnitude is loss of memory and may the possibility to have associated language disorders, it is necessary to develop a multidisciplinary approach in which the speech, language and hearing scientist is the responsible to maintaining the communication of elderly with AD as well as their quality of life and their families and caregivers. In order to provide actions focused on AD, in attention to health care, training health professionals, seniors and caregivers about aspects related to AD, are the new technologies of information and communication tools that can assist in the knowledge transmission about the AD. Given the context discussed, this research aims to develop and evaluate the virtual learning environment effectiveness about Speech, language and hearing sciences with a focus on Alzheimer's disease. The material production will follow the stage of analysis and planning, modeling, implementation and evaluation. Content and technological resources assessments will be performed by speech language and hearing scientists, caregivers and seniors through a questionnaire vailable on website. Thus it is expected to provide information to general population about the theme discussed and promoting quality of life improvement to elderly.