AAC Activity Programming & Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which principle guides the selection of activities for a person with mid-stage Alzheimer's disease?
- Match activities to the individual's remaining abilities and past interests (Correct answer)
- Focus exclusively on cognitive stimulation exercises
- Prioritize group activities over individual ones
- Choose activities based on staff availability
Correct answer: Match activities to the individual's remaining abilities and past interests
Person-centered care requires matching activities to an individual's current abilities, preferences, and life history to maximize engagement and dignity.
Question 2: A resident with Alzheimer's becomes agitated during a group music session. What is the BEST immediate response?
- Continue the session and ignore the agitation
- Gently redirect the resident to a quieter, one-on-one activity (Correct answer)
- Remove all music activities from the resident's plan
- Administer PRN medication immediately
Correct answer: Gently redirect the resident to a quieter, one-on-one activity
Gentle redirection to a calmer environment addresses the immediate distress without eliminating the activity type entirely.
Question 3: What does the term 'procedural memory' mean in the context of Alzheimer's activity programming?
- Memory for recent events and conversations
- Memory for names and faces
- Memory for how to perform learned skills like folding or stirring (Correct answer)
- Memory for personal history and biography
Correct answer: Memory for how to perform learned skills like folding or stirring
Procedural memory (how-to memory) is often preserved longer in Alzheimer's, allowing individuals to engage in familiar tasks like folding laundry or kneading dough.
Question 4: Which sensory modality is typically used in Snoezelen (multi-sensory) environments for people with dementia?
- Auditory only
- Visual only
- A combination of light, sound, touch, and scent (Correct answer)
- Taste and proprioception exclusively
Correct answer: A combination of light, sound, touch, and scent
Snoezelen environments use a blend of sensory stimuli—fiber optic lights, soft music, tactile objects, and aromatherapy—to promote relaxation and engagement.
Question 5: A care team notices that a resident with late-stage Alzheimer's no longer participates in group activities. The MOST appropriate adaptation is:
- Discontinue structured activities entirely
- Provide brief, one-on-one sensory-based interactions such as hand massage (Correct answer)
- Increase group activity frequency to encourage engagement
- Refer the resident to a psychiatric evaluation
Correct answer: Provide brief, one-on-one sensory-based interactions such as hand massage
In late-stage dementia, one-on-one sensory interactions like touch, music, or aromatherapy can maintain connection and comfort when group participation is no longer feasible.
Question 6: How does reminiscence therapy benefit individuals with Alzheimer's disease?
- It restores lost long-term memories permanently
- It leverages intact long-term memories to promote identity, self-esteem, and social connection (Correct answer)
- It primarily improves short-term recall
- It replaces medication management for behavioral symptoms
Correct answer: It leverages intact long-term memories to promote identity, self-esteem, and social connection
Reminiscence therapy uses preserved long-term memories to validate identity and promote emotional well-being, not to restore lost memories.
Question 7: When scheduling activities for a person with Alzheimer's disease, which time of day is generally BEST for cognitively demanding tasks?
- Late evening when the environment is quieter
- Mid-afternoon, after lunch
- Mid-morning, when the person is typically most alert (Correct answer)
- Immediately after waking, before breakfast
Correct answer: Mid-morning, when the person is typically most alert
Most people with Alzheimer's have peak alertness and best cognitive function during mid-morning, making it the optimal window for more demanding activities.
AAC Activity Programming & Engagement 2
Which principle guides the selection of activities for a person with mid-stage Alzheimer's disease?