Environmental Design & Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real AAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Design & Safety flashcards as text
A resident repeatedly walks toward a patio door and becomes distressed when it is locked. Which environmental strategy is most therapeutic?
Answer: Creating a visible, accessible outdoor space with a safe wandering path the resident can use
Providing accessible outdoor space satisfies the need to walk and explore, reducing the distress associated with blocked exits.
Which flooring material is most recommended for memory care hallways to reduce fall severity?
Answer: Slip-resistant vinyl or cushioned flooring
Slip-resistant cushioned flooring reduces both the likelihood of slipping and the impact severity when falls occur.
What is the recommended temperature range for memory care resident rooms to maximize comfort and safety?
Answer: 70–75°F (21–24°C)
Older adults with dementia are more vulnerable to temperature dysregulation, and a range of 70–75°F supports comfort without risk of overheating or chilling.
Which modification to a resident's bedroom MOST directly supports independence in dressing for someone with mid-stage Alzheimer's disease?
Answer: Organizing the closet with one outfit visible at a time in the order it is put on
Limiting visible clothing choices and arranging items in dressing order reduces decision fatigue and supports the preserved procedural memory of getting dressed.
Why should clocks and calendars be prominently displayed in memory care common areas?
Answer: To provide environmental cues that support orientation to time for residents
Visible clocks and calendars provide continuous environmental cues that help residents with dementia maintain orientation to day, date, and time.
A memory care unit introduces a 'wandering garden' with raised planting beds. Which therapeutic benefit does this PRIMARILY provide?
Answer: It provides purposeful, meaningful activity while supporting safe movement outdoors
Raised garden beds give residents a meaningful, familiar activity that engages long-term memories while also providing safe, supervised outdoor mobility.
In dementia care, what is the term for designing environments to minimize overstimulation, confusion, and safety hazards through intentional physical modifications?
Answer: Prosthetic environment
A 'prosthetic environment' compensates for the cognitive and functional losses of dementia by structuring physical surroundings to support safe, independent behavior.