Learning Journal 7

My project, dealing in studying the social repercussions of Alzhiemers disease on the Tongan people (or at least on those individuals whom I will come into contact with) is slowly shaping up into something of substance that makes a little sense. As this is happening I have been thinking about different ways to accomplish my project while out in the field. What I want to do (at this point) is to interview families who are caring for a person with the disease, friends of those families, and then even the patients themselves. The problem that I foresee, however is first and foremost in coming to contact with and finding these individuals. There is no way that Tonga will be filled with signs that say "Our Grandpa has alzhiemers, call this number!"

The second problem that I foresee is the ethical portion of my project. In no way is asking people how their alzhiemers is going something that is going to bring up happy feelings. I need to find a way to accomplish my project by finding the people first, and going about it in an ethical and well thought-out manner.

I have a few ideas at this point, in solving my problems stated above. First of all, I will need to find the Alzhiemers patients before I can study anything. Therefore, I plan to look up (before going to Tonga) and see if I can find a healthcare facility that deals (at least in some part) with alzheimers patients. From there I will see if volunteering in such a healthcare facility is an option, if not I will still go and interview the doctors and see if from there I can be referred to patients. I plan to ask the doctors questions about the disease and gain thier professional opinion regarding it. In terms of the ethics of my project, I will think about formulating questions that are tactful and don't necessarily talk about the disease in particular but will still be helpful in gleaning information about what families and individuals are feeling as a result of it. I plan to be very observant, as pictures are worth thousands of words. I will work on finding out what needs to be done in order to make my project proposal as ethical as possible.

As I further delve into what my project is and how I am to accomplish it, I come across better ideas, unforeseen difficulties and the like. I want to be able to work all these out so that when I do go to Tonga in May, I will have a solid project to work off of.