Communication & Behavior Management Flashcards

A person with Alzheimer's repeatedly asks where their deceased spouse is. What is the most therapeutic response?

Answer: Redirect with a comforting activity or memory

Redirecting with a comforting activity honors the emotional need without causing repeated grief from reminders of loss.

Which approach best describes 'validation therapy' in dementia care?

Answer: Accepting the person's emotional reality even when it differs from facts

Validation therapy acknowledges the feelings and subjective reality of the person with dementia to reduce distress.

A resident with late-stage Alzheimer's can no longer speak. Which communication strategy is most effective?

Answer: Use touch, eye contact, and a calm tone of voice

Nonverbal communication—touch, facial expressions, and tone—remains meaningful even when verbal abilities are lost.

Sundowning refers to increased confusion and agitation that typically occurs at what time of day?

Answer: Late afternoon and evening

Sundowning is a pattern of worsening behavioral symptoms in the late afternoon and evening, likely linked to circadian rhythm disruption.

When a person with Alzheimer's becomes verbally aggressive, the first step a caregiver should take is to:

Answer: Stay calm and assess for an unmet need or trigger

Aggression is often a communication of an unmet need; remaining calm and identifying the trigger is the first priority.

Which environmental modification most helps reduce wandering behavior in people with Alzheimer's?

Answer: Camouflaging exit doors to blend with the wall

Camouflaging exits reduces the visual cue that draws persons with dementia toward doors, decreasing elopement risk.

A caregiver notices a person with Alzheimer's grimacing during personal care. This most likely indicates:

Answer: Pain or discomfort that should be assessed and addressed

Grimacing is a nonverbal pain cue; people with Alzheimer's often cannot verbalize pain and rely on behavioral signals.