AAC Communication & Behavior Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person with Alzheimer's repeatedly asks where their deceased spouse is. What is the most therapeutic response?
- Redirect with a comforting activity or memory (Correct answer)
- Gently remind them their spouse has passed away
- Ignore the question to avoid distress
- Change the subject abruptly without acknowledgment
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which approach best describes 'validation therapy' in dementia care?
- Accepting the person's emotional reality even when it differs from facts (Correct answer)
- Correcting misperceptions to keep the person oriented
- Using repetition to reinforce accurate memories
- Limiting conversations to avoid confusion
Correct 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.
Question 3: A resident with late-stage Alzheimer's can no longer speak. Which communication strategy is most effective?
- Use touch, eye contact, and a calm tone of voice (Correct answer)
- Speak only to family members about the resident's needs
- Avoid interaction since verbal communication is impossible
- Use written notes as the primary communication method
Correct 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.
Question 4: Sundowning refers to increased confusion and agitation that typically occurs at what time of day?
- Late afternoon and evening (Correct answer)
- Early morning upon waking
- Immediately after meals
- During midday rest periods
Correct 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.
Question 5: When a person with Alzheimer's becomes verbally aggressive, the first step a caregiver should take is to:
- Stay calm and assess for an unmet need or trigger (Correct answer)
- Firmly tell the person their behavior is unacceptable
- Immediately administer prescribed PRN medication
- Leave the room and return only when behavior stops
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which environmental modification most helps reduce wandering behavior in people with Alzheimer's?
- Camouflaging exit doors to blend with the wall (Correct answer)
- Installing bright lighting near all exits
- Placing large 'EXIT' signs at eye level
- Keeping doors unlocked to reduce frustration
Correct 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.
Question 7: A caregiver notices a person with Alzheimer's grimacing during personal care. This most likely indicates:
- Pain or discomfort that should be assessed and addressed (Correct answer)
- Resistance to care that requires a firm approach
- Cognitive decline affecting emotional expression
- Boredom with the daily routine
Correct 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.
AAC Communication & Behavior Management 2
A person with Alzheimer's repeatedly asks where their deceased spouse is.
What is the most therapeutic response?