CDP Communication Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a person with dementia asks repeatedly for a deceased spouse, the BEST response is to:
- Correct them firmly and show the death certificate
- Enter their reality and respond with empathy (Correct answer)
- Ignore the question to avoid reinforcing the behavior
- Redirect with a loud noise or clapping
Correct answer: Enter their reality and respond with empathy
Entering the person's reality and responding with empathy validates their emotional experience without causing distress.
Question 2: Which communication strategy is MOST effective when a person with advanced dementia no longer understands verbal language?
- Speaking louder and more slowly
- Using touch, facial expressions, and tone of voice (Correct answer)
- Writing instructions on a whiteboard
- Asking family members to translate
Correct answer: Using touch, facial expressions, and tone of voice
Nonverbal communication—touch, expression, and tone—remains effective even when verbal comprehension is severely impaired.
Question 3: A care partner notices that a resident becomes agitated whenever two people talk to them simultaneously. The BEST approach is to:
- Have both people continue to encourage engagement
- Designate one person to speak at a time (Correct answer)
- Stop all verbal communication and use written notes
- Speak faster to shorten the interaction
Correct answer: Designate one person to speak at a time
Competing voices create sensory overload; one speaker at a time reduces confusion and agitation.
Question 4: The technique of 'mirroring' in dementia communication refers to:
- Showing the person their reflection to improve self-recognition
- Matching the person's body language and emotional tone (Correct answer)
- Repeating their words back verbatim
- Using a mirror to direct eye contact
Correct answer: Matching the person's body language and emotional tone
Mirroring involves matching the person's posture and emotional energy to build rapport and trust.
Question 5: When preparing to communicate with a person with dementia, you should FIRST:
- Review their care plan in front of them
- Approach from the front and make eye contact before speaking (Correct answer)
- Announce yourself from across the room
- Turn on background music to create a calm atmosphere
Correct answer: Approach from the front and make eye contact before speaking
Approaching from the front and establishing eye contact prevents startling the person and signals the upcoming interaction.
Question 6: Which type of question is MOST appropriate when communicating with a person in moderate-stage dementia?
- Open-ended questions requiring detailed recall
- Multiple-choice questions with three or more options
- Yes/no or simple two-option questions (Correct answer)
- Abstract hypothetical questions
Correct answer: Yes/no or simple two-option questions
Yes/no and two-option questions reduce cognitive demand and allow meaningful participation despite memory impairment.
Question 7: When a person with dementia uses the wrong word (paraphasia), the care partner should:
- Correct them immediately to reinforce accurate language
- Ask them to try again with the correct word
- Understand the intended meaning and respond accordingly (Correct answer)
- Document the error and report to the speech therapist immediately
Correct answer: Understand the intended meaning and respond accordingly
Responding to the intended meaning rather than correcting errors preserves dignity and maintains conversational flow.
CDP Communication Techniques 2
When a person with dementia asks repeatedly for a deceased spouse, the BEST response is to: