Managing Behavioral Symptoms 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 Managing Behavioral Symptoms flashcards as text
Which approach BEST supports a person with Alzheimer's who is experiencing depression alongside behavioral symptoms?
Answer: Ensuring meaningful social engagement, physical activity, and monitoring for treatable causes
A combination of social engagement, gentle physical activity, and ruling out treatable causes is the evidence-based first approach to depression in Alzheimer's.
When a person with Alzheimer's uses physical aggression during personal care, the SAFEST immediate response is to:
Answer: Stop the task, ensure safety, and attempt care again when the person is calm
Pausing care during acute aggression prevents injury to both the person and caregiver, and re-approaching when the person is calm is safer and more effective.
Which factor is MOST associated with increased behavioral symptoms in people with Alzheimer's?
Answer: Unmet needs such as pain, hunger, loneliness, or toileting needs
Research consistently shows that behavioral symptoms in dementia often represent unmet physical or emotional needs that the person cannot verbally communicate.
A person with Alzheimer's repeatedly says they want to 'go to work.' The BEST caregiver response is to:
Answer: Engage them in a task-like activity that mirrors work, such as folding towels
Engaging the person in purposeful, work-like activities validates their identity and meets the need for purpose without confronting their altered reality.
Which strategy is MOST effective for managing sleep disturbances in a person with Alzheimer's?
Answer: Increasing exposure to natural light during the day and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
Daytime light exposure helps regulate the circadian rhythm, and a consistent sleep-wake schedule reduces nighttime behavioral disturbances.
The term 'catastrophic reaction' in Alzheimer's care refers to:
Answer: An extreme emotional overreaction to a seemingly minor trigger
A catastrophic reaction is a sudden, overwhelming emotional or behavioral response disproportionate to the trigger, common in Alzheimer's due to reduced coping capacity.
Which approach helps prevent catastrophic reactions during personal care tasks?
Answer: Narrating each step in a calm voice and obtaining verbal assent before proceeding
Narrating steps and seeking assent gives the person predictability and a sense of control, which reduces anxiety and the likelihood of catastrophic reactions.