Activities & Engagement Programming Flashcards

Which ethical principle is most directly upheld when a practitioner continues to seek activity preferences from a person with advanced dementia who can no longer verbalize them?

Answer: Autonomy

Autonomy requires honoring an individual's right to self-determination, which can be supported through nonverbal cues, family input, and life history even in advanced disease.

A practitioner observes that a resident smiles and reaches toward fabric swatches during an activity. According to dementia care principles, what does this behavior most likely indicate?

Answer: Positive engagement and a preference for tactile stimulation

Nonverbal behavioral cues like smiling and reaching are valid indicators of positive engagement and preference in nonverbal individuals.

What is the recommended group size for activity programming with individuals in moderate-to-severe stages of dementia?

Answer: Small groups of 3-5 to reduce stimulation and allow individualized attention

Small groups reduce overstimulation, allow closer monitoring of individual response, and enable more personalized engagement.

Which staff approach best supports activity engagement for a person with dementia who is experiencing anxiety?

Answer: Use a calm tone, simple language, and validate the person's feelings before initiating an activity

Therapeutic communication that validates feelings and uses calm, simple language reduces anxiety and creates the psychological safety needed for engagement.

A dementia practitioner notices that a resident who enjoyed cooking becomes more alert during kitchen-based simulated activities. This is best explained by which concept?

Answer: Preserved procedural and implicit memory linked to overlearned occupational roles

Familiar occupational tasks engage procedural and implicit memory systems that are more resilient to Alzheimer's-related neurodegeneration.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'flow' in dementia activity programming?

Answer: A state of absorbed, effortless engagement achieved when task challenge matches the person's current ability

Flow theory applied to dementia care means calibrating activity complexity so individuals can engage without frustration or boredom.

When documenting activity participation for a person with dementia, which detail is most clinically important to include?

Answer: Type of activity, level of engagement, affect observed, and any behavioral changes noted

Clinically meaningful documentation captures the quality of engagement and behavioral response, informing care plan adjustments and interdisciplinary communication.