AAC AAC Nutrition & Hydration Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which swallowing difficulty, commonly seen in late-stage Alzheimer's disease, increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia?
- Dysphagia (Correct answer)
- Dyslexia
- Dysarthria
- Dyspraxia
Correct answer: Dysphagia
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is common in late-stage Alzheimer's and significantly increases the risk of food or liquid entering the airway.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of using thickened liquids for individuals with Alzheimer's disease who have swallowing difficulties?
- To improve taste
- To reduce aspiration risk (Correct answer)
- To increase caloric intake
- To improve digestion
Correct answer: To reduce aspiration risk
Thickened liquids slow the flow of fluids, giving individuals more time to coordinate swallowing and reducing the risk of aspiration.
Question 3: Which behavioral change in a person with Alzheimer's disease most directly signals a risk of dehydration?
- Increased appetite
- Refusal to drink fluids (Correct answer)
- Requesting more blankets
- Increased social activity
Correct answer: Refusal to drink fluids
Refusing to drink fluids is a key behavioral indicator that can lead to dehydration, which worsens confusion and functional decline.
Question 4: When a person with Alzheimer's begins pocketing food in their cheeks without swallowing, the care team should first:
- Increase meal portion sizes
- Consult a speech-language pathologist (Correct answer)
- Switch to a liquid-only diet immediately
- Limit meal frequency to once daily
Correct answer: Consult a speech-language pathologist
Pocketing food is a sign of possible oral motor dysfunction or dysphagia, which requires evaluation by a speech-language pathologist.
Question 5: Which mealtime approach best supports independent eating in a person with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease?
- Serving multi-course meals simultaneously
- Using finger foods and adaptive utensils (Correct answer)
- Dimming lights during meals
- Providing meals in bed at all times
Correct answer: Using finger foods and adaptive utensils
Finger foods and adaptive utensils promote independence and reduce frustration for individuals who have difficulty using standard tableware.
Question 6: Unintentional weight loss in a person with Alzheimer's disease is most often attributed to which combination of factors?
- Oversleeping and excess activity
- Reduced appetite, increased energy expenditure, and forgetting to eat (Correct answer)
- Medication side effects only
- Deliberate caloric restriction
Correct answer: Reduced appetite, increased energy expenditure, and forgetting to eat
Weight loss in Alzheimer's typically results from decreased appetite, wandering-related energy burn, and the person forgetting they have already eaten or need to eat.
AAC AAC Nutrition & Hydration Management 1
Which swallowing difficulty, commonly seen in late-stage Alzheimer's disease, increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia?