AAC Person-Centered Dementia Care Models 1 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the foundational principle of person-centered care for individuals with dementia?
- Focusing on the individual's unique life history, preferences, and abilities rather than their diagnosis alone (Correct answer)
- Standardizing care protocols to ensure consistent medical treatment across all patients
- Prioritizing caregiver convenience and efficiency in daily routines
- Emphasizing pharmacological management as the primary intervention
Correct answer: Focusing on the individual's unique life history, preferences, and abilities rather than their diagnosis alone
Person-centered care treats each individual as a whole personâhonoring their history, values, and preferencesârather than defining them solely by their dementia diagnosis.
Question 2: Teepa Snow's GEMS model classifies individuals with dementia using which set of gemstones?
- Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Amber, Ruby, Pearl (Correct answer)
- Gold, Emerald, Amber, Ruby, Pearl, Diamond
- Platinum, Sapphire, Jade, Coral, Opal, Ruby
- Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, Opal, Pearl
Correct answer: Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Amber, Ruby, Pearl
The GEMS model uses six gemstonesâSapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Amber, Ruby, and Pearlâto describe different stages and states of brain change in dementia.
Question 3: Validation Therapy, developed by Naomi Feil, is based on the premise that:
- Behaviors of disoriented older adults have underlying meaning and purpose (Correct answer)
- Reality orientation is the most effective tool for correcting confused thinking
- Pharmacological intervention should precede non-pharmacological approaches
- Cognitive decline can be reversed through structured reminiscence activities
Correct answer: Behaviors of disoriented older adults have underlying meaning and purpose
Validation Therapy holds that disoriented behaviors are meaningful expressions of unresolved feelings, and empathizing with themârather than correcting themâreduces distress.
Question 4: The DICE approach (Describe, Investigate, Create, Evaluate) is specifically designed to address:
- Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) (Correct answer)
- Medication management and dosing protocols
- Legal documentation for advance directives
- Financial planning for long-term care
Correct answer: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
DICE is a structured, non-pharmacological approach developed to systematically understand and manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia before considering medications.
Question 5: The Eden Alternative philosophy of dementia care focuses on eliminating which three 'plagues' of long-term care?
- Loneliness, helplessness, and boredom (Correct answer)
- Malnutrition, dehydration, and falls
- Isolation, medication errors, and infections
- Depression, anxiety, and agitation
Correct answer: Loneliness, helplessness, and boredom
The Eden Alternative, founded by Dr. William Thomas, identifies loneliness, helplessness, and boredom as the primary causes of suffering in long-term care settings.
Question 6: When adapting the Montessori Method for dementia care, the primary focus is on:
- Engaging individuals in purposeful activities matched to their remaining abilities (Correct answer)
- Teaching new cognitive skills to slow the progression of dementia
- Structured academic learning adapted for cognitive impairment
- Reminiscence through reviewing personal photo albums and mementos
Correct answer: Engaging individuals in purposeful activities matched to their remaining abilities
The adapted Montessori method focuses on activities that match a person's remaining abilities, promoting independence, self-efficacy, and a sense of purpose.
Question 7: The 'Butterfly Model' of care developed by Dr. David Sheard emphasizes:
- Emotional needs and feelings-based care over task-focused care (Correct answer)
- Environmental modifications as the primary therapeutic intervention
- Structured behavioral management protocols for safety
- Family involvement as the sole driver of care quality
Correct answer: Emotional needs and feelings-based care over task-focused care
The Butterfly Model prioritizes emotional connection and meeting emotional needs, fundamentally shifting care from a task-centered to a feelings-centered approach.
What is the foundational principle of person-centered care for individuals with dementia?