Parkinson's Disease Media Project

Material Assigned: Cupcake Liners

Client information product was designed for:
Demographics: 76-year-old, married, caucasian, female, retired history professor, living in a skilled nursing facility
Primary Diagnosis: Parkinson's Disease
Secondary Diagnosis: Cataracts and hypertension

Population that could benefit from product use:

• This product can be used as intervention across the lifespan, from children around the age of 4 to geriatrics. 
• The product was designed with Parkinson's and a skilled nursing facility in mind, but could be used with many different populations and settings. From a school, to a mental hospital, to acute care, to outpatient rehab, and more! 

Barriers of targeted population to be addressed through product use: 

1. Lack of social interaction in a skilled nursing facility
2. Cognitive challenge
3. Visual acuity deficits 
4. Poor trunk control
5. Decreased gross and fine motor coordination
6. Intention tremors

Product created: oversized checker board with velcro cupcake liner "checker pieces"

Materials Needed:

• Cupcake liners
• Poster board cut into a square
• Crayons or markers
• Velcro 

Purpose of the product:

Paula has been recently transferred from her home to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after insurance changes caused her to lose her home care. This transition has been hard for Paula as she has been living with her husband in the comforts of their home for 45 years. She is also used to having much more freedom and independence than what she has now in the SNF. Paula misses being able to keep in touch with colleagues and friends via her computer, which she had open access to at home. Paula also feels that the activities in the SNF are boring and do not challenge her mentally. The purpose of the checkers game is to foremost provide Paula with social interaction. Whether it be played when her friends or husband visit, with her roommate or fellow clients at the SNF, or during an occupational therapy session. Providing an appropriate level of cognitive challenge is another purpose of this product. As well as aiding Paula in maintaining or increasing her visual acuity through correct placement of the checker pieces. Improved trunk control can be achieved through increasing the duration of the activity each time or altering the set up. The game board can be placed on a table, on a wall, or on the clients roll away table on her hospital bed. Increases in client's gross and fine motor coordination, achieved by playing the game either sitting or standing with a support. The client will have to pinch or grasp the checker pieces, as well as reach across the board to place them. Tremor control can be achieved through the use of wrist weights or arm supports. The client could also practice strengthening the non-dominant hand. The checker pieces are velcroed down, this prevents the pieces from being knocked around if the hand begins to tremor. Since cupcake liners can be bought in bulk at a low cost, they are easily replaced if one becomes torn. This product is great for intervention throughout the stages of Parkinson's disease as it can be graded up or down as needed.