A man with severe Alzheimer's disease stops wandering during a picture colouring activity

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a picture colouring activity on the wandering (and constructive engagement) of a man with severe Alzheimer's disease. METHOD: The colouring activity was compared with a music listening condition and a baseline/control condition. A choice phase involving the colouring activity and the music condition was also implemented. RESULTS: Wandering was constant during the baseline condition, but it was reduced to low or virtually 0% levels during the music condition and picture colouring activity. Moreover, the patient regularly selected the colouring activity (which also promoted constructive engagement) during the choice phase. CONCLUSION: Simple leisure activities, such as picture colouring, might help patients with Alzheimer's disease reduce wandering.