Dementia Care & Cognitive Programming Flashcards
7 cards from real ACC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Dementia Care & Cognitive Programming flashcards as text
What is the primary principle of validation therapy when applied to dementia care activities?
Answer: Acknowledging and accepting the emotional truth behind a resident's statements and behaviors
Validation therapy holds that the emotional truth behind a person's statements is more important than factual accuracy, and acknowledging feelings reduces distress and improves communication.
Which of the following BEST describes 'learned helplessness' in a resident with dementia?
Answer: A resident who has stopped attempting tasks because they expect failure or are denied opportunities to try
Learned helplessness occurs when residents stop attempting activities due to repeated failure or lack of opportunity, which activity professionals should prevent by offering appropriate challenges and encouragement.
Music therapy benefits residents with dementia PRIMARILY because:
Answer: Musical memory pathways are often preserved even in advanced dementia due to emotional processing regions of the brain
Music engages emotional memory pathways in the brain that are often preserved even when other memory systems are damaged, allowing residents to respond to familiar music even in later stages.
What is the recommended approach when a resident with dementia exhibits a 'catastrophic reaction' — an extreme emotional outburst in response to a stimulus?
Answer: Remove the triggering stimulus, reduce environmental stimulation, and offer calm reassurance
Catastrophic reactions occur when a person with dementia is overwhelmed; the appropriate response is to remove triggers, reduce environmental stimulation, and provide calm, reassuring presence.
Which principle should guide an activity professional when a resident with dementia repeatedly asks the same question throughout a session?
Answer: Respond with patience each time as if it is the first time, addressing the underlying emotional need
Repeated questions often reflect an underlying emotional need such as anxiety or insecurity; responding with patience each time addresses this need and maintains dignity without causing distress.
What is the primary distinction between procedural memory and declarative memory as it relates to dementia activity programming?
Answer: Procedural memory involves how to perform tasks and skills; declarative memory involves facts and episodic events
Procedural memory (how to perform tasks like knitting or gardening) is often preserved longer in dementia than declarative memory (facts and episodic events), guiding activity professionals to offer familiar skill-based activities.
When planning activities for a resident with vascular dementia compared to Alzheimer's disease, what is the MOST important factor to consider?
Answer: The stepwise progression and specific cognitive deficits related to stroke location that may vary by individual
Vascular dementia often progresses in a stepwise pattern following strokes, and cognitive deficits depend on which brain areas were affected, requiring individualized assessment of each resident's specific strengths and limitations.