Proposal

** Graduation Project Proposal  ** ** __ Project __ ** Briefly describe your intended project. // What will you do? Where will you “work”/volunteer? With whom will you work/volunteer? //  My focus for this project is the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on those who care for them. To aid in my understanding of caretaking, for my hands-on project, I will be volunteering at Harston Hall with the elderly individuals who are there. Mainly, I will look at the psychological aspects Alzheimer’s disease has on family members and others individuals who care for those with the disease. Although Alzheimer’s disease is common, not every individual I will be working with will have the disease. My volunteer work will give me a broader understanding for what it is like to care for the elderly. Project Outcome or Goal // What products will result from your “work”/volunteerism? Describe how you will use the product in order to demonstrate your topic and experience. //  The goal of my volunteer work is to gain an understanding of caring for the elderly. Through this understanding, I will raise awareness of the psychological impact of the disease on caregivers. Because I will have first-hand experience of working with the elderly for twenty to thirty hours, I will be able to sympathize with those who need to care for Alzheimer’s patients. Project Completion Strategies // How will you go about completing your project? Describe your plan for implementing and completing your project. //  My volunteer work at Harston Hall is already in the process of being completed. First, I contacted Harston Hall and received a volunteer form which has been completed. Usually, I will work on Saturdays from 11am to 2pm, starting this Saturday. Once my hands-on project is completed, I plan on creating a Glogster as a portal for information concerning the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on caregivers. As I volunteer, I will also complete my journal on my experience. Project Resources and Materials // What will you need to complete your project? Describe materials, resources, people, hours, etc. that are necessary for you to complete your project. //  In order to complete my project, I will need twenty to thirty hours of volunteer work at Harston Hall, and I have already created a schedule with the people working there. ** __ Research __ ** Research Topic: // Briefly describe the topic of your research and why you chose this topic. //  I will be researching the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on those who care about them, for example, family members or nurses. I chose this topic, because in college, I plan on studying psychology, however, I am very interested in geriatric psychology and eventually want to work with the elderly. Essential Question: // State your essential question. //  How does Alzheimer’s disease impact the lives of those who care for them? Prior Experience: // Have you had any prior experience(s) with this topic? If so, please describe. //  Personally, I have not, however, my Nana, who passed this December, had Alzheimer’s disease. This took a tool on my mom-mom and also my family. Although she was in a nursing home, we cared for her a lot and often worried if she was cared for enough at the nursing home. On December 9, Madeline Bender finally passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 95. So, in a way, I am dedicating this project to her. Research Benefits: // Who or what will benefit from your research investigation? //  When people think about Alzheimer’s disease, they rarely consider how it affects the family and the caregivers. My research will provide information on how caregivers cope with Alzheimer’s patients. Since Alzheimer’s has become a growing issue, many people may have to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. In addition, those I am volunteering with will benefit from my work there and I will benefit from my experience. Potential Sources: // List and describe potential reliable sources (people, organizations, etc.) for information about your topic. How will you contact them? What will you hope to learn from them? //  I hope to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease from the people I am working with at Harston Hall. Also, I have found several sources, such as // Alzheimer’s Caregiver Coach // and // Alzheimer’s Speaks Blog // that I am following on my wikispace and will aid in my research, along with information provided from the Alzheimer’s Association. From these sources, I wish to learn what it is like, psychologically and emotionally, to care for someone with Alzheimer’s and what kinds of long-term and short-term effects it has on an individual. I will look at both the positives and negatives of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and, hopefully, I will have a deeper understanding of the disease itself.
 * Springfield Township High School **