Monday, September 30, 2019
First Day in School
It was the first day of the new school term 2012. The moment that I am looking forward for the past 2 monthsà duringà school holiday finally arrived. Feeling ebullient, I said to myself ââ¬Å"Yes!!! I am starting my Primary 3 todayâ⬠. Waking up earlier than usual without my parents ââ¬Å"wake-upâ⬠call, I rush to the toilet to have a quick shower and clean-up and straight proceed to the kitchen to have my breakfast. The bread spread withà a thin layer of butter which I occasionally have during school day is finally back!!! At 6:30am, my mum brought me downstairs to wait for the school bus. As usual the same group of 6 students plus my P2 classmate, Madhu is waiting eagerly for the bus to arrive. It has been our practise to queue up while waiting for the bus. It took us 10 minutes for the school bus to reach our beloved CHIJ Primary Toa Payoh school. Upon reaching the school, i am expecting to see new students who is starting their first day of Primary 1 in our school. I am in the look to see any parents who require any help for directions in our school and I am more happy to show them the way. This is my proud moment as I am representing the school and to my delightà the parents said ââ¬Å"Thank Youâ⬠to me!!! I proceed to Parade Square where the place for our assembly area. At the assembly area, I saw many type of faces. There were those who looked as nerd; some looked lethargic, seemed to be burning midnight oil, some looked excited to meet with their friends again cby chatting non-stop. We took our morning prayers and waiting anxiously for our beloved principal Ms Margaret Tan for her opening speech. The moment I am waiting for when Mrs Margaret Tanà call out and introduced allà Form Teacher names. I am really looking forward to meet my new teacher today which subsequently being announced as Ms Evelyn Chee. We are then asked to proceed to our class at level 2. Although it was the first day of school after two long months of holidays, the class was still clean. Itt was beyond of my expectation that the tables and chairs were free of dust. Perhaps the workers of the school were industrious and responsible!!! Good Morning everybody, I am your form teacher and you can call me Ms Cheeâ⬠a slim and tall lady mooching in the class said. She looked kind and her look could allay my anxiety to be in the class. We are being updated with our P3 new timetable and also being reminded of the school rules and regulations. It's really a day full of excitement, meeting new and my former classmates and of course meeting my new teacher. I am definitely ready with the new challenge in Primar y 3 Ixora.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Personal Finance Management
Personal Finance Management Personal finance management is a topic that very few actually understand. There were no finance classes given when I was coming Into adulthood. So I had no understanding of credit scores, credit reports, and credit cards. Nor did I have a clue about interest rates and what it meant to have good credit. I was in the dark about finance period. Over the years, I have learned about debt, bad credit, and collections. These are things that I came to learn very well and struggled with not knowing how to fix these issues.I did not know the importance of making credit card payments or any type of payments on time. At the start of this course I was $89,000 In debt. I could not get a line of credit or approved for an apartment with that much debt listed on my credit report. I was literally In financial ruins and had no clue how to get out of it. I signed up for debt relief programs and I ended up owing money and still had no debt relief. So I decided to contact an at torney and we discussed different forms of debt relief programs and bankruptcy.Although bankruptcy is a last resort method that was the best choice for my current situation. I am newly divorced and I had shared debt from my past marriage, doctor ills, credit card bills, student loans, and Just a wide range of miscellaneous debts. The choice to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy was my only option. I was able to keep my possessions and all of my debt was discharged with the exception of my student loans. Now I am in the process of rebuilding my credit and this course came at the most perfect time of my life.I have learned so much from this course pertaining to finance that I can use on my journey In rebuilding my credit and making a healthier financial situation for myself. I learned the difference between open and close ended credit and how It works. Mortgage loans and automobile loans are examples of closed-end credit. An agreement, or contract, lists the repayment terms, such as the numb er of payments, the payment amount, and how much the credit will cost.Charge cards and bank cards are examples of open-end credit and unless you pay off the debt in full each month, you will often have to pay a high-rate of interest or other kinds of finance charges for the use of credit. I also learned about Investing Into stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, these are great ways to allow your money to grow and build interest. I had no understanding about investing money to make more money or saving for detriment. These are all things that I am interested in learning more about and incorporating these ideas in my financial plans for the future.I have learned more about filing bankruptcy and what to expect post-bankruptcy. I know that I have to wait two years to purchase a home and that is one of my desired goals. I will take the next two years and work on rebuilding my credit. Adapting a Flanagan plan would be a great start for me at this point. I have also decided to sign up with a pr ogram that keeps track of my credit report and that will allow me to know at all times what is going on with my credit.Rebuilding credit requires you to take out lines of credit and this step is where I could use the help in understanding what types of credit would be best for me. Being that my bankruptcy is fairly recent I was told to wait to apply course I knew barely anything about interest and what it does to money owed. You end up owing double if your payments are not paid on time or accounts are not paid in full and I understand that concept now but I was clearly in the dark when it came to understanding all of the different areas of finance and money management.Living outside of my means was the main reason I ended up in so much debt. So learning how to budget my earnings and making responsible decisions when spending is a way that I am learning to better my financial situation. Outside of information pertaining to credit, I have learned about different areas that are not wid ely spoken about such as taxes, life insurance, health insurance, 401 K, Medicare, and Medicaid. These all are different things that need to be understood during adulthood that I am Just now understand about.There are so many forms of health and life insurance that it makes it hard to fugue out which policy would work better for my family and l. There are government based insurance Lana, low income plans, and plans geared toward older adults. I have not carried insurance on myself or my children and I understand that there is a purpose in having such coverage. This class offered so much information about so many different things at the right time in my life. It has helped me to understand how important having a grasp on your financial situation is.There is more to Just getting a paycheck, cashing it, and spending it. There has to be a budget and a plan put in place. Making future plans is also a great decision. Knowing that you will have money for later expenses is always a great fe eling than living check to check. I have learned so many different strategies pertaining to managing my finances from this course. Regardless to being knowledgeable of personal finance or having very little understanding of the subject taking a course of this type will expose you to so much more than Just managing money.I learned about home loans, Aria's, taxes, credit and the different forms of it, living wills, investments, retirement plans, and so much more. I have learned to set up a financial and budgeting plan to maintain my finances on a month to month basis and long term. Having the opportunity to be a art of a finance course has opened my eyes to what I should be striving for financially. Although I still have questions regarding the different types of retirement plans, how exactly do home loans work and which one would be a better fit for me, which life insurance plans should I choose to go with, and where should I start if I wanted to invest.I still have a lot of financia l questions that I need answers to but I have gathered so much information from this class that will at least put me in the right direction for financial success. Even the thought of contacting a financial planner may be an excellent choice for me at this point. Being that I have all of this great information to incorporate into my life and I am starting over financially it might not be a bad idea. I do have a great deal of confidence that I will have financial success from this point forward. Eave ever been in and although I confided in an attorney and he helped me initially to get back on track, it was this finance management course that gave me the understanding that I needed to make good financial choices. I understand the importance making good financial choices and what the outcome can be whether it is good or bad. Unfortunately, I had to experience bad credit, collections, wage arrangements, court Judgments, and low credit scores because I did not have the information that I was given through this class back then. Personal Finance Management Personal Finance Management Personal finance management is a topic that very few actually understand. There were no finance classes given when I was coming Into adulthood. So I had no understanding of credit scores, credit reports, and credit cards. Nor did I have a clue about interest rates and what it meant to have good credit. I was in the dark about finance period. Over the years, I have learned about debt, bad credit, and collections. These are things that I came to learn very well and struggled with not knowing how to fix these issues.I did not know the importance of making credit card payments or any type of payments on time. At the start of this course I was $89,000 In debt. I could not get a line of credit or approved for an apartment with that much debt listed on my credit report. I was literally In financial ruins and had no clue how to get out of it. I signed up for debt relief programs and I ended up owing money and still had no debt relief. So I decided to contact an at torney and we discussed different forms of debt relief programs and bankruptcy.Although bankruptcy is a last resort method that was the best choice for my current situation. I am newly divorced and I had shared debt from my past marriage, doctor ills, credit card bills, student loans, and Just a wide range of miscellaneous debts. The choice to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy was my only option. I was able to keep my possessions and all of my debt was discharged with the exception of my student loans. Now I am in the process of rebuilding my credit and this course came at the most perfect time of my life.I have learned so much from this course pertaining to finance that I can use on my journey In rebuilding my credit and making a healthier financial situation for myself. I learned the difference between open and close ended credit and how It works. Mortgage loans and automobile loans are examples of closed-end credit. An agreement, or contract, lists the repayment terms, such as the numb er of payments, the payment amount, and how much the credit will cost.Charge cards and bank cards are examples of open-end credit and unless you pay off the debt in full each month, you will often have to pay a high-rate of interest or other kinds of finance charges for the use of credit. I also learned about Investing Into stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, these are great ways to allow your money to grow and build interest. I had no understanding about investing money to make more money or saving for detriment. These are all things that I am interested in learning more about and incorporating these ideas in my financial plans for the future.I have learned more about filing bankruptcy and what to expect post-bankruptcy. I know that I have to wait two years to purchase a home and that is one of my desired goals. I will take the next two years and work on rebuilding my credit. Adapting a Flanagan plan would be a great start for me at this point. I have also decided to sign up with a pr ogram that keeps track of my credit report and that will allow me to know at all times what is going on with my credit.Rebuilding credit requires you to take out lines of credit and this step is where I could use the help in understanding what types of credit would be best for me. Being that my bankruptcy is fairly recent I was told to wait to apply course I knew barely anything about interest and what it does to money owed. You end up owing double if your payments are not paid on time or accounts are not paid in full and I understand that concept now but I was clearly in the dark when it came to understanding all of the different areas of finance and money management.Living outside of my means was the main reason I ended up in so much debt. So learning how to budget my earnings and making responsible decisions when spending is a way that I am learning to better my financial situation. Outside of information pertaining to credit, I have learned about different areas that are not wid ely spoken about such as taxes, life insurance, health insurance, 401 K, Medicare, and Medicaid. These all are different things that need to be understood during adulthood that I am Just now understand about.There are so many forms of health and life insurance that it makes it hard to fugue out which policy would work better for my family and l. There are government based insurance Lana, low income plans, and plans geared toward older adults. I have not carried insurance on myself or my children and I understand that there is a purpose in having such coverage. This class offered so much information about so many different things at the right time in my life. It has helped me to understand how important having a grasp on your financial situation is.There is more to Just getting a paycheck, cashing it, and spending it. There has to be a budget and a plan put in place. Making future plans is also a great decision. Knowing that you will have money for later expenses is always a great fe eling than living check to check. I have learned so many different strategies pertaining to managing my finances from this course. Regardless to being knowledgeable of personal finance or having very little understanding of the subject taking a course of this type will expose you to so much more than Just managing money.I learned about home loans, Aria's, taxes, credit and the different forms of it, living wills, investments, retirement plans, and so much more. I have learned to set up a financial and budgeting plan to maintain my finances on a month to month basis and long term. Having the opportunity to be a art of a finance course has opened my eyes to what I should be striving for financially. Although I still have questions regarding the different types of retirement plans, how exactly do home loans work and which one would be a better fit for me, which life insurance plans should I choose to go with, and where should I start if I wanted to invest.I still have a lot of financia l questions that I need answers to but I have gathered so much information from this class that will at least put me in the right direction for financial success. Even the thought of contacting a financial planner may be an excellent choice for me at this point. Being that I have all of this great information to incorporate into my life and I am starting over financially it might not be a bad idea. I do have a great deal of confidence that I will have financial success from this point forward. Eave ever been in and although I confided in an attorney and he helped me initially to get back on track, it was this finance management course that gave me the understanding that I needed to make good financial choices. I understand the importance making good financial choices and what the outcome can be whether it is good or bad. Unfortunately, I had to experience bad credit, collections, wage arrangements, court Judgments, and low credit scores because I did not have the information that I was given through this class back then.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Clinical Reflective Journal Entry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Clinical Reflective Journal Entry - Essay Example This patient was leaving his hospital unit and it was clear that he demonstrated a significant risk of falling. Upon witnessing this, I offered to help the patient, however he rejected my offer of help. Instead, the patient chose to use his wheelchair. He then exited the hospital unit, and similar to the early patient was discharged from the hospital by the physician. After witnessing these two events ââ¬â the woman and then the man leaving ââ¬â I asked the staff nurse if these patients were permitted to leave their rooms. The nurse responded that they, in-fact, were permitted to leave, as the hospital was not permitted to hold them in their hospital units.à Upon learning this information, I notified that nurse that the woman look clearly cognitively impaired, and that the man was about to fall. In response to my query, the nurse indicated that despite these factors, she was still not permitted to hold the patients in their hospital units. While I lack the legal and ethica l background to accurately determine if the nursing staff and physician truly were not allowed to hold the patients in their hospital units, from an outside and common sense perspective it appears that the nursing staff did not function to their full professional capacity. Itââ¬â¢s clear that these patients were mentally or physically impaired and that permitting them to freely leave the unit posed a risk to themselves, as well as a liability risk to the hospital. Furthermore, the patients were housed on the neurological floor.... Upon learning this information, I notified that nurse that the woman look clearly cognitively impaired, and that the man was about to fall. In response to my query, the nurse indicated that despite these factors, she was still not permitted to hold the patients in their hospital units. While I lack the legal and ethical background to accurately determine if the nursing staff and physician truly were not allowed to hold the patients in their hospital units, from an outside and common sense perspective it appears that the nursing staff did not function to their full professional capacity. Itââ¬â¢s clear that these patients were mentally or physically impaired and that permitting them to freely leave the unit posed a risk to themselves, as well as a liability risk to the hospital. Furthermore, the patients were housed on the neurological floor because of cognitive dysfunctioning. Ultimately, it seems overwhelmingly apparent that the nursing staff at the University of Texas Medical Br anch should have taken more vigilant action in response to these patients. Professional Growth In terms of growth the experience revealed a number of important elements for my professional career. One of the most pervasive experiences I came to recognize was the cynicism many of the nursing staff experienced in relation to the hospitalââ¬â¢s laws. I recognized that simply allowing individuals that were cognitively impaired to walk outside of their hospital room and outside the ward did not make practical sense. In addition, I believe that on some level that the nursing practitioners also recognized the general absurdity of such practices, yet they did so with a healthy dose of cynicism towards the hospitals practices. Rather than
Friday, September 27, 2019
News Search Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
News Search - Essay Example Gods laws and love place a demand on humankind to treat all other human beings who are created in Gods image with love and care irrespective of race, color or creed (Abela & Capizzi, 2014). This principle applies to persons, communities and even nations who must love and treat others based on how they themselves would like to be treated. The initiative of the townââ¬â¢s people of Gangi is a working example of an effort at humanity coming together as one family. Inviting other people from all over the world regardless of race, color or creed promotes the brotherhood of all mankind. Pope Puis XI social teachings of equity and power in all business and political issues is decentralized and brought as close as possible to the local citizenry in order to ensure that there is social justice (Abela & Capizzi, 2014). This principle is basically the decentralization of power from the centralized authority. This gives the local communities more power to make decisions on matters that impact them directly. Decentralizing power ensures social justice through equity in the decision-making process. The decision of the townââ¬â¢s people of Gangi is an example of local citizens taking political as well as business decisions into their own hands in order to better their lives by promoting tourism. This Catholic principle applies to all areas of human life; spiritual, mental, physical and social (Abela & Capizzi, 2014). This principle should be equitably expressed in the equal provision of security, temporal goods, social well-being, and fundamental rights to all individuals. The dignity of every human being must be maintained in line with Gods laws and principles irrespective of race, color, or creed. The Gangi project will benefit the social, economic well being of all the townââ¬â¢s people while respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the locals. The foreign buyers will get to acquire a great holiday home and at the same time integrate into the local
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Analysis of Lifelong Learning Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Analysis of Lifelong Learning - Term Paper Example As serious, lifelong conditions, these disorders have generated important challenges to the systems that relate to the individuals with disabilities including educational, vocational, medical, and psychiatric systems. Diagnosis: The paired processes of diagnosis and classification of these developmental disorders characterized by disability in many spheres of function are fundamental to intervention. The diagnostic process includes all of the activities in which a clinician engages in trying to understand the nature of an individual's difficulty. The result of this process is often a narrative account, a portrait of the individual's past, the current problems, and the ways in which these problems can be related to each other and to possible underlying causes. In the course of the diagnostic process, the clinician will learn about the patient's history, observe the patient, engage in specialized investigations, and use laboratory and other methods for helping define the patient's problems and their causes. The clinician will integrate the findings from these activities based on specialized scientific knowledge. Often more than one clinician may be involved in the diagnostic process; then, the final clinical diagnostic formulation will integrate the pooled information into a coherent and consensual narrative that reflects the varied information. One component of the diagnostic process is the assignment of the patient's difficulties, signs, symptoms, pains, troubles, worries, dysfunctions, and abnormal tests to a specific class or category of illness or disorder. The newer methods of classification of developmental, psychiatric, behavioral, and mental disorders respect the distinction between diagnosing an individual and classifying his or her problems (CDC, 2004). Early Intervention Priorities: For early intervention priorities, it is to be remembered that there is no obvious physical marker for most of the conditions. The problems that result from neurobehavioural disabilities often get directed at the caregiver. These disabilities are harder to accept since these children do not ask for help in the usual lovable way. Unless one validates the problems as true disabilities, one will dismiss the problems, and instead, blame the person as being uncontrollable. The starting point for the intervention is an atypical child and his or her dysfunctions. With such disabilities, most of these children fail to learn. The early intervention priorities, therefore, deploy strategies that hammer away at the area of deficit and strategies that effectively circumvent it. In dyslexia, for example, Orton-Gillingham, a structured, multisensory approach, stressing phonics grounded on language-based learning processes, is the hammer-away approach, whereas using bo oks on tape is the circumvent approach. Both types of interventions have their essential and legitimate uses.Ã Ã
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Legalization of Marijuna Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Legalization of Marijuna - Essay Example These variations are responsible for carrying out research studies to assess marijuana for medical implications. According to IOM report (1999), Marijuana contains certain components which are potentially efficient in relieving pain, nausea as well as vomiting. It is also found to be effective for AIDS associated failure to eat. Research reveals that marijuana could be used as therapeutic agent to relieve pain and sufferings in severely ill cases, as it acts as a medicine when other drugs or medications fail. Smoking marijuana is found to be the most diffident approach as it delivers the drug appropriately and at a faster pace (Should marijuana be a medical option?). Considering the issue, should the use of marijuana as medicine be legalized? The argument has both the pros and cons. Supporters have their viewpoint as marijuana was found to be effective in treating fatally ailing patients. This group encompasses physicians especially those dealing with chronic illness such as AIDS and cancer. The two major groups supporting the legalization of marijuana are Physicians Association for AIDS and National Lymphoma Foundation. Physicians instituted that marijuana was found to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients and thereby providing them confidence to struggle treacherous consequences. Marijuana was also found to be effective in glaucoma patients, cancer cases and other fatal diseases. Marijuana works as a wonder drug for these ailing cases as it encourages lifesaving treatment such as chemotherapy with ease and comfort (Term paper on Legalization Of Marijuana.). On the contrary, the anti-marijuana group such as Drug Enforcement Agency and Police Department present a view that marijuana is a dangerous drug and provides an addiction to the patient, therefore should not be included in the list of prescribed drugs. They portray an analysis where marijuana was found to display harmful effects similar to cocaine and morphine,
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Wk2 econ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Wk2 econ - Essay Example The slope is usually concave from the origin, which means, that opportunity costs increase with increasing production of a good. In the example above the Production Possibility Frontier is a straight line, which represents constant opportunity costs for different combination of goods production (Mankiw, 2011). Trade plays important role in reducing poverty in developing countries and increasing their growth rates. According to European Commission trade gives the following advantages to the developing countries: it increases commercial opportunities of a country; contributes to improvement of value chain of a product, which makes it more competitive; promotes innovations in the country; increases investments into the country; expands export of local producers to other countries; generates employment opportunities; influences exchange of experience and strengthens economic and social ties between developing and developed countries (European Commission,
Monday, September 23, 2019
Risk management process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Risk management process - Essay Example This paper gives a critical analysis of a diagrammatic representation of the steps of risk management. This is achieved in conjunction with a detailed evaluation of the journal article ââ¬Å"Understanding Risk Management in Small 7 Stepsâ⬠(Mazareanu, 2011). Figure 1 below presents the 6 major steps in risk management. Nonetheless the article ââ¬Å"Understanding Risk Management in Small 7 Stepsâ⬠breaks down the steps of risk management process into seven small steps. It is however notable that the journal article describes the major areas in risk management sufficiently in scope (Mazareanu, 2011). In accordance to Fig 1 above, the process of risk management begins with the assessment of risk. Mazareanu (2011), in the journal article, describes this stage as the assessment of vulnerabilities. Nonetheless this translates to the same meaning. Therefore the risk management process begins with the assessment of both internal and external factors which makes individuals or organizations vulnerable to risk. In the assessment of risk, it is necessary to consider the assets that are at stake and the level of vulnerability that they are exposed to incase of a disaster, accident or failure (Burnaby & Hass, 2009). The diagram shows that after the assessment of risk, the process of risk management is followed by the development of goals and objectives of the management process. These goals and objectives acts as a roadmap against which the processes of risk management are measured (LAbbate, 2008). Fig 1 illustrates various considerations in the design of objectives and goals of the risk management process. Firstly, policy issues must be considered because they have a direct effect on the implementation of the risk management processes and project. Secondly, the standards for cleanup are designed. These are the guidelines which limit the extent to which risks are
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Themes in Othello Essay Example for Free
Themes in Othello Essay Themes in Othello is that of deception, developed mostly through Iago, who is an arch-deceiver throughout the play. Because he is angry that Othello has passed over him for a promotion, he vows revenge. Playing upon Othelloââ¬â¢s jealousy, he deceives him into believing that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He also deceives Roderigo, making him believe that Desdemona will tire of Othello and eventually be won by Roderigo. It is Iagoââ¬â¢s repeated deceptions that move the plot of the play forward to the ultimate climax and tragedy. Another minor theme of Othello is love, and the play can be considered a romantic tragedy. The play is romantic because it celebrates the marriage of two minds as embodied in Othello and Desdemona. They marry in spite of the protests of Desdemonaââ¬â¢s father, and she faithfully follows her husband wherever he is sent. Their romantic marriage, however, is ruined by the villainous machinations of Iago. Othello is eventually led to murder his beloved, turning the romantic play into a tragedy. A third minor theme of Othello revolves around appearance vs. reality. Iago has an honest face, which helps hide his deceitful soul. Othello appears to be strong and courageous, a leading general, but he is easily tricked into fearing that his wife is unfaithful. It appears that Desdemona has left her treasured handkerchief with Cassio; in reality, Emilia has taken it and Iago has planted in on Cassio. Because of Iagoââ¬â¢s trickery, it appears to Othello that Desdemona is involved with Cassio; in truth, she is innocent, loving her husband dearly. Throughout the play, Iago is instrumental in making sure that reality is disguised by appearances, which he manipulates. MOOD The predominant mood of the whole play is somber and tragic. Iago works his evil almost from the opening scene, and each new deception that he plans brings greater misery. The tragic gloom that he causes is only occasionally relieved by comedy, provided by Roderigo and the Clown.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Case Study - Early Alzheimers Essay Example for Free
Case Study Early Alzheimers Essay This paper reviews the use of cognitive rehabilitation treatment of early stage of dementia Alzheimerââ¬â¢s type. The case study examines a 72 year old male patient diagnosed with early stage dementia of Alzheimerââ¬â¢s Type. This study used visual imagery, as well as cues and expanding rehearsal during the cognitive rehabilitation. The evaluation of cognitive rehabilitation treatment included the psychological, physiological, neurological assessments and self-reports. Results suggested that extended use of cognitive rehabilitation treatment ensued longer lasting improved cognitive functioning.à With the results of the study discussed, implications suggest that combining longer treatment of cognitive rehabilitation could help reduce the progression of early onset dementia of the Alzheimerââ¬â¢s Type. Case Study Clare, Wilson, Carter, Hodges, and Adams (2001) studied a 74-year old single man, named ââ¬Å"VJâ⬠who lived with his sister in a single case study. VJ was formerly employed in the construction industry. VJ started to attend the memory clinic in 1993. He was then diagnosed having an early stage of dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). His sister joined him at the clinic. The researchers started with a process called, cognitive rehabilitation (CR) intervention. Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) focuses on memory functioning. Although CR was at first developed for patients with traumatic brain injuries, it was proven to be efficient for people experiencing cognitive difficulties (Savage, 2009, p. 31). In order to define CR, it is necessary to define cognition. Katz and Hadas (1995) quote Lidz in defining cognition, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦as the individuals capacity to acquire and use information to adapt to environmental demandsâ⬠(p. 9). Sigelman and Rider (2012) say that cognition is, ââ¬Å"the activity of knowing and the process through which knowledge is acquired and problems solvedâ⬠(p. 210). Cognitive rehabilitation is quoted by Katz and Hadas (1995) ââ¬Å"â⬠¦the therapeutic process of increasing or improving an individuals capacity to process and use incoming information so as to allow increased functioning in everyday life, this includes both methods to restore cognitive functioning and compensatory techniques (p. 29). Interventions aimed in CR are divided into remedial and adaptive/functional strategies (Katz Hadas, 1995). The main aim of the remedial strategy is the individuals impaired capabilities. The functional strategies are aimed to enhance the strengths of the individual for functioning. The assumption these two strategies are built upon is, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦that functional activities require cognitive perceptual skillsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Katz Hadas, 1995, p. 30) and cognitive impairments can be modified and treated in the adult dysfunctional brain which will enhance reorganisation or recovery of the brain. Based on these assumptions the remedial strategy is directed towards functional abilities by retraining perception skill components of behaviour, while the functional strategy in contrast assumes that the affected adult brain has limited recovery potential and that retraining of the brain should be focused on specific activities as required (Katz Hadas, 1995). The unique feature of all occupational therapy models, are the emphasis that treatment is based on purposeful activities that are analyzed and adapted to the patients cognitive and functional ability level. This therapy is not without controversy. As the critics of CR indicated, memory training for people with DAT increases frustration for the patients, because the improvement in cognition is short term (Clare et al. , 2001). Sigelman and Rider (2012) agree by saying, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦over time, individuals cannot recall even with the aid of cues and become increasingly frustratedâ⬠(p. 541). Neuroplasticity is possible before or in the early stages of AD, but diminishes in later phases of AD. Clare et al. 2001) found empirical research to prove that CR is an effective method of slowing the decline of cognitive functions in early AD. Questions about CR which remain to be answered include impact of CR on well-being and life quality, the ability to sustain longevity of gains in cognitive therapy and what type of contributions can CR make in AD? (Clare et al, 2001). Lately, ââ¬Å"identifying cognitive markers of a preclinical phase of Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease (AD) has been a major research focus in neuropsychologyâ⬠(Jacobson et al. 2009, p. 278). Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention Clare and colleagues, (2001) predicted in theory, that the possibility cognitive rehabilitation may be responsible for the maintenance of memory gains over time. The researchers set to prove through long-term follow-up data that memory retraining had lasting effects and showed gains beyond the treatment sessions as demonstrated by previous cognitive rehabilitation studies. The researchers used 11 Polaroid photos of VJââ¬â¢s club members to teach the face-name associations. This was performed by the method of combining visual imagery, vanishing cues, and expanding rehearsal (Clare et al. , 2001). The researchers took VJ to the familiar environment of the club to do generalisation sessions using the photos and found the initial recall was 20% and raised to 98% over time and became 100% at the one, three, six and nine months follow-up sessions. VJ practiced every day using the photographs. ââ¬Å"In the early stages of Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease, free recall tasks are difficult but memory is good if cues to recall are providedâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Sigelman Rider, 2012, p. 41), like the photos in this case study. After the ninth months, the researchers took the photos away to use them only once a month, at the club with VJ. VJ was to recall the first names of the people in the photos with zero feedback given to VJ. After the first and second year, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was completed. At the same times neuropsychological assessment were completed to evaluate the results of changes in cognitive functioning compared to the initial and post-intervention assessments. Several tests were used in the neuropsychological assessment such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); National Adult Reading Test (NART); Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM); Speed and Capacity of Language Processing (SCOLP); Visual Object and Space Perception Battery (VOSP); Unfamiliar Face Matching; Digit span, forwards and backwards; Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT); Doors and People; Famous Faces and Famous Names. Self-report measures were used as well to assess VJââ¬â¢s perceptions of memory problems, behaviour, affect and VJââ¬â¢s sister on caregiver strain. The following measures were used: Memory Symptoms Questionnaire; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) VJââ¬â¢s sister rated herself on strain experienced (Clare et al. , 2001). The initial and post-intervention neuropsychological assessments shown VJââ¬â¢s general cognitive abilities before he contracted DAT were in the high average ranges, his post-intervention scores were above average, though speed of processing was slower. VJââ¬â¢s perceptual skills and processing of unfamiliar faces were in normal ranges. Memory was severely impaired, having difficulty recalling names of famous people. Overall there was not much of a change between the initial and post-intervention assessments, but only a mild decline in abstract reasoning and speed of processing information. While some of VJââ¬â¢s cognitive functions remained the same, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦a gradual decline in abstract reasoning, speed of information processing, working memory, episodic memory, and semantic memory over the study period was evident. MMSE scores, too, showed a mild declineâ⬠¦assessment of coronal T1 images (MRI) revealed mild, but definite, bilateral hippocampal atrophy as indicated by enlargement of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle and reduction in height of the hippocampal formationâ⬠(Clare et al. , 2001, p. 486-487). After all the results were taken in consideration it seems that this case study provides the evidence that long-term maintenance of specific gains can be achieved with a CR procedure. The use of CR in dementia was criticised as not being an intervention that can assure any gains beyond the treatment sessions. It is clear from the results of this study that this claim is untrue. Another case study in 2003 was done with the same interventions. The same results were found and support the finding that CR maybe a valuable comprehensive intervention for persons with early identified dementia of the Alzheimer type (Clare, Wilson, Carter, Hodges, 2003). Conclusions The results of this case study indicate the importance of length in cognitive rehabilitation for individuals diagnosed with early staged dementia of the Alzheimerââ¬â¢s type. The use of cognitive rehabilitation over an extended period of treatment allowed the researchers to evaluate the importance of visual imagery, recall and extended rehearsal strategies in treatment. The positive results indicated possible development in the treatment of diagnosed patients, as well as duration and techniques applied. Future studies will need to focus on the exact parameters of duration for treatment with cognitive rehabilitation in patients diagnosed with early stage dementia of Alzheimerââ¬â¢s Type. Implications arrived from the longevity of treatment could also improve the overall quality of treatment, evidence to substantiate financial support/funding for treatment and improve motivation and expectations from patients and family members. The importance to involve cognitive stimulation with patients diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease is apparent in subsequent research and continues to be implicated in other similar cognitive dysfunctions.
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