Abstract
External aids are applied to support the environment of the patients with memory disorder. This study was performed to examine the effectiveness of external aids among the elderly with dementia. Subjects consisted of 15 institutionalized females of the facility of health care services of the elderly (average age: 83.8 years; NM scale evaluation point, 32.8 in average). They were ordered to perform the following five tests about memory with or without external aids, and their responses were compared. In test 1, (place of objects), the number of correct answers was significantly increased with labels. In test 2 (process), the number of correct answers was slightly increased with labels. In test 3 (people's name), the number of correct answers was significantly increased with memos. In test 4 (estimation of time), with a timer the number of correct answers was slightly increased. In test 5 (route), the number of correct answers was not increased with a tape on the floor or an arrow. These results suggest that external aids may play an effective role in improving memory disorder of the elderly with dementia.
