Communication and Emotional Support Flashcards

A caregiver notices a person with late-stage Alzheimer's responds positively to music even when verbal communication has failed. This occurs because:

Answer: Musical memory is stored differently and often survives longer than verbal memory

Procedural and emotional musical memories are stored in brain regions that tend to be spared longer in Alzheimer's disease than verbal memory centers.

Caregiver self-disclosure ('I feel happy when you smile') during interactions with people with Alzheimer's is best described as:

Answer: A valid tool for emotional connection and modeling expression

Appropriate, brief emotional self-disclosure can foster connection and model emotional expression for persons who have difficulty initiating.

When helping a person with Alzheimer's through a care task, using a calm, narrating voice ('Now I'm going to wash your arm') is beneficial because:

Answer: It reduces surprise, builds trust, and maintains dignity during personal care

Narrating care actions prepares the person for touch, reduces startle responses, and preserves dignity by treating them as a participant.

A family member is upset because their loved one with Alzheimer's no longer recognizes them. The caregiver's most supportive response is to:

Answer: Acknowledge the family's grief and suggest ways to connect beyond recognition

Acknowledging grief while offering constructive connection strategies supports the family member emotionally and preserves meaningful visits.

A person with Alzheimer's refuses to eat and becomes distressed at mealtime. The most effective communication-based strategy is to:

Answer: Use positive, sensory-based language and offer familiar comfort foods

Sensory language ('This smells like the soup you used to make') and familiar foods engage emotional memory and reduce mealtime resistance.

The term 'emotional contagion' is relevant to Alzheimer's care because:

Answer: People with Alzheimer's are highly sensitive to caregivers' emotional states

People with Alzheimer's often read and mirror the emotional tone of those around them, making caregiver emotional regulation a key care skill.

Which practice best supports the emotional well-being of both the caregiver and the person with Alzheimer's during difficult interactions?

Answer: The caregiver pauses, uses deep breathing, and re-enters the interaction with calm presence

Brief self-regulation strategies allow the caregiver to return to a calm baseline, which directly benefits the person with Alzheimer's through emotional contagion.