ACC Caregiver Skills and Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a person with Alzheimer's refuses to bathe, what is the most effective caregiver approach?
- Insist firmly until the person complies
- Offer choices such as a bath or shower and use a calm, reassuring tone (Correct answer)
- Skip bathing to avoid conflict
- Ask a different family member to force compliance
Correct answer: Offer choices such as a bath or shower and use a calm, reassuring tone
Offering choices preserves the person's sense of control and reduces resistance during personal care tasks.
Question 2: Which technique best helps a caregiver redirect a person with Alzheimer's who is repeatedly asking the same question?
- Telling the person they already asked that question
- Answering once and then distracting with a preferred activity (Correct answer)
- Ignoring the question to discourage repetition
- Writing down the answer and refusing to speak further
Correct answer: Answering once and then distracting with a preferred activity
Redirection to a familiar and enjoyable activity addresses the underlying emotion without causing frustration.
Question 3: A caregiver notices that a person with Alzheimer's becomes agitated every afternoon. This pattern is best described as:
- Delirium
- Sundowning (Correct answer)
- Psychosis
- Depression
Correct answer: Sundowning
Sundowning refers to increased confusion and agitation that commonly occurs in late afternoon or evening in people with Alzheimer's.
Question 4: When assisting a person with Alzheimer's to eat, which approach is most appropriate?
- Spoon-feed all meals to save time
- Offer finger foods and encourage self-feeding as long as possible (Correct answer)
- Limit meal duration to under five minutes
- Serve all foods blended together regardless of preference
Correct answer: Offer finger foods and encourage self-feeding as long as possible
Encouraging self-feeding with easy-to-manage finger foods supports independence and dignity.
Question 5: Which environmental modification best reduces fall risk for a person with Alzheimer's?
- Adding throw rugs at entry points
- Installing grab bars in the bathroom and removing tripping hazards (Correct answer)
- Keeping rooms dimly lit to avoid overstimulation
- Locking all doors to restrict movement
Correct answer: Installing grab bars in the bathroom and removing tripping hazards
Grab bars and clear pathways directly reduce the most common causes of falls in people with dementia.
Question 6: A person with Alzheimer's insists on going to their childhood home, which no longer exists. The most therapeutic caregiver response is:
- Correct them firmly and explain the house was demolished
- Explore the feelings behind the request and offer comfort (Correct answer)
- Tell them they are confused and need medication
- Change the subject abruptly without acknowledging their statement
Correct answer: Explore the feelings behind the request and offer comfort
Exploring underlying feelings such as longing for safety or familiarity allows the caregiver to provide meaningful comfort.
Question 7: Which communication technique is most effective when speaking with someone in the later stages of Alzheimer's?
- Using complex sentences to maintain cognitive engagement
- Speaking with simple words, a calm tone, and direct eye contact (Correct answer)
- Avoiding verbal communication since it is no longer effective
- Raising your voice so the person can hear clearly
Correct answer: Speaking with simple words, a calm tone, and direct eye contact
Simple language, a calm tone, and eye contact help maintain connection even when verbal comprehension is limited.
ACC Caregiver Skills and Techniques 2
When a person with Alzheimer's refuses to bathe, what is the most effective caregiver approach?