CDP Activities & Engagement Programming 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dementia practitioner notices a resident who was once a musician becomes agitated during group activities. Which intervention best uses the resident's life history?
- Redirect the resident to a quiet room
- Offer individualized music therapy with familiar songs from the resident's era (Correct answer)
- Increase the group activity volume to engage the resident
- Schedule the resident for pet therapy instead
Correct answer: Offer individualized music therapy with familiar songs from the resident's era
Life history-informed programming uses past interests and skills to create meaningful engagement, and familiar music can reduce agitation in dementia.
Question 2: Which sensory stimulation approach is most appropriate for a person with late-stage dementia who has limited verbal communication?
- Complex board games requiring turn-taking
- Snoezelen/multi-sensory environment therapy using light, texture, and scent (Correct answer)
- Competitive group trivia games
- Reading aloud from dense novels
Correct answer: Snoezelen/multi-sensory environment therapy using light, texture, and scent
Snoezelen therapy provides non-demanding sensory input that can promote relaxation and engagement in individuals with severe cognitive impairment.
Question 3: What is the primary goal of a reminiscence group activity for people with dementia?
- Improve short-term memory recall
- Foster emotional well-being and social connection through long-term memories (Correct answer)
- Teach new information about history
- Correct factual errors in the person's memory
Correct answer: Foster emotional well-being and social connection through long-term memories
Reminiscence therapy leverages relatively preserved long-term memory to support identity, emotional connection, and quality of life.
Question 4: A care team is planning activities for a resident with moderate Alzheimer's disease. Which approach aligns with the PDCA (Person-Directed Care Approach) framework?
- Assign the resident to all scheduled group activities regardless of preference
- Assess the resident's preferences, past roles, and current abilities before planning activities (Correct answer)
- Focus exclusively on physical exercise to maintain function
- Let family members choose all activities without consulting the resident
Correct answer: Assess the resident's preferences, past roles, and current abilities before planning activities
Person-directed care requires assessing individual preferences, life history, and current capacities to co-create meaningful activity plans.
Question 5: During a gardening activity, a resident with dementia tries to eat soil. What is the most appropriate immediate response?
- Terminate gardening activities for all residents
- Calmly redirect the resident to a safe tactile alternative such as potting soil in a sealed container (Correct answer)
- Scold the resident to prevent recurrence
- Restrain the resident's hands
Correct answer: Calmly redirect the resident to a safe tactile alternative such as potting soil in a sealed container
Safe redirection maintains engagement while eliminating harm risk, preserving dignity and the therapeutic value of the activity.
Question 6: Which activity format is most effective for maintaining engagement in a person with dementia experiencing sundowning?
- High-energy aerobic exercise in the late afternoon
- Calm, familiar, and structured activities scheduled before the sundowning window (Correct answer)
- New skill-learning workshops in the early evening
- Loud group social events at dusk
Correct answer: Calm, familiar, and structured activities scheduled before the sundowning window
Calm, familiar activities earlier in the day help reduce the agitation associated with sundowning by avoiding overstimulation during vulnerable hours.
Question 7: What does the term 'meaningful occupation' mean in dementia activity programming?
- Activities that keep residents physically occupied for long periods
- Engagement that aligns with a person's values, roles, and sense of identity (Correct answer)
- Tasks that require supervision to ensure safety
- Activities approved by the activities director only
Correct answer: Engagement that aligns with a person's values, roles, and sense of identity
Meaningful occupation in dementia care refers to activities that resonate with the individual's past roles, values, and sense of self, promoting well-being.
CDP Activities & Engagement Programming 2
A dementia practitioner notices a resident who was once a musician becomes agitated during group activities.
Which intervention best uses the resident's life history?