Communication Strategies Flashcards

A resident with late-stage dementia no longer produces intelligible speech. Which approach remains meaningful?

Answer: Maintain nonverbal presence through gentle touch, eye contact, and facial expression

Nonverbal presence — touch, facial expression, eye contact — conveys connection and safety even when verbal exchange is no longer possible.

When someone with dementia exhibits sundowning with increased confusion in the late afternoon, the BEST communication strategy is:

Answer: Simplify interactions, use a calm routine, and reduce environmental stimulation

Simplified interactions and reduced stimulation align with the person's reduced capacity during sundowning periods.

The primary reason to avoid using 'elderspeak' (baby talk, sing-song tone, collective 'we') with dementia patients is that it:

Answer: Conveys disrespect, reduces self-esteem, and can increase resistiveness

Elderspeak communicates low regard for the person and has been linked to increased behavioral symptoms and reduced cooperation.

A person with dementia repeats the same story multiple times. The most therapeutic response is to:

Answer: Listen with the same interest each time and respond to the emotional theme

Responding with consistent interest honors the emotional need the story represents, even when the narrative repeats.

Which of the following best describes 'chaining' as a communication technique in dementia care?

Answer: Breaking a task into small steps and verbally cueing one step at a time

Chaining breaks tasks into sequential one-step cues, reducing cognitive load and supporting procedural memory.

To communicate effectively with a person who has visuospatial deficits from dementia, caregivers should:

Answer: Approach from the front and within the person's central visual field

Approaching within the central visual field compensates for peripheral and depth-perception deficits common in Alzheimer's disease.

When a dementia patient refuses personal care and becomes combative, the communication strategy of 'bridging' involves:

Answer: Connecting the care task to a familiar positive memory or routine to gain acceptance

Bridging links the care activity to a positive memory or familiar context, making it meaningful and less threatening to the person.