Behavioral Management Flashcards

Which communication technique is most effective when a person with dementia insists they need to 'go home' while already at home?

Answer: Enter their reality and explore the emotional need behind the statement

Entering the person's reality and addressing the underlying emotion (longing for safety, familiarity) is more effective than correcting factual inaccuracies.

Validation therapy, developed by Naomi Feil, is based on the principle that:

Answer: Acknowledging and respecting a person's feelings reduces distress

Validation therapy holds that accepting and validating a person's emotional reality—even if factually incorrect—reduces anxiety and improves well-being.

A caregiver notices a resident becomes aggressive only during mealtime. The FIRST step in assessment should be to:

Answer: Identify specific triggers occurring during or before meals

A systematic antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) analysis starts with identifying what specifically triggers the aggression before any intervention.

Which sensory intervention has evidence supporting its use for agitation reduction in persons with dementia?

Answer: Aromatherapy using lavender or lemon balm

Aromatherapy with lavender and lemon balm has demonstrated calming effects in clinical studies of agitation in dementia.

When using the ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) model for behavioral analysis, the 'antecedent' refers to:

Answer: What happens immediately before the behavior is displayed

The antecedent is the trigger or event that precedes the behavior, which is essential for identifying causes and preventing recurrence.

Meaningful activity programming for persons with dementia should primarily be based on:

Answer: The individual's lifelong interests, roles, and abilities

Person-centered activity programming rooted in individual history provides purpose and reduces behavioral symptoms more effectively than generic group activities.

A resident with moderate dementia begins hoarding food in their room. The most appropriate response is to:

Answer: Explore the underlying anxiety and offer reassurance and small snacks

Hoarding often stems from fear of food scarcity or lack of control; addressing the emotional need with reassurance and safe snack access is most effective.