Communication and Person-Centered Care 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 Communication and Person-Centered Care flashcards as text
A person with late-stage Alzheimer's no longer speaks but grimaces during repositioning. The caregiver should interpret this as:
Answer: A possible sign of pain and document and report it for assessment
Facial expressions such as grimacing are important nonverbal pain signals that must be assessed even when the person cannot self-report.
Which element is considered foundational to a person-centered care plan for someone with Alzheimer's disease?
Answer: Detailed life history including interests, routines, cultural background, and values
A detailed life history allows the entire care team to individualize interactions and activities to match the person's identity and preferences.
A caregiver asks a person with Alzheimer's 'Do you want to get dressed?' and the person says no every time. A better approach would be to:
Answer: Rephrase as a choice: 'Would you like to wear the blue sweater or the red one today?'
Offering a limited, specific choice shifts focus from whether to comply to which option to pick, often enabling cooperation.
Mirroring — gently copying a person's posture or movement during an interaction — can help caregivers by:
Answer: Establishing rapport and helping the person feel understood nonverbally
Mirroring builds nonverbal rapport and communicates attunement, which helps people with dementia feel safe and connected.
A nurse's aide interrupts a resident with dementia mid-sentence because they are running behind schedule. Why is this problematic from a person-centered care perspective?
Answer: It communicates that the person's communication is less important than the task, eroding dignity
Interrupting sends a message of disrespect and signals that the person's thoughts and words do not matter.
The 'three C's' of person-centered dementia communication often include comfort, connection, and:
Answer: Consistency
Consistency in approach, routine, and familiar faces reduces anxiety and builds trust for people with dementia.
When a person with Alzheimer's is not responding to verbal communication, which sensory approach may help engage them?
Answer: Offer a familiar scent, a favorite object, or gentle touch to establish connection
Engaging other senses — smell, touch, or meaningful objects — can reach people who can no longer respond reliably to speech alone.