CDP Dementia Care Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which eating intervention is MOST appropriate for a person with dementia who has difficulty using utensils?
- Provide only pureed foods regardless of swallowing ability
- Offer finger foods that the person can manage independently (Correct answer)
- Feed the person entirely to save time
- Restrict meals to twice daily to simplify the schedule
Correct answer: Offer finger foods that the person can manage independently
Finger foods support independence and dignity while accommodating motor skill deficits common in dementia.
Question 2: Which stage of Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the need for full assistance with all activities of daily living?
- Mild (early) stage
- Moderate (middle) stage
- Severe (late) stage (Correct answer)
- Pre-clinical stage
Correct answer: Severe (late) stage
In severe (late-stage) Alzheimer's disease, individuals lose the ability to perform all ADLs independently and require full care.
Question 3: A care practitioner notices a sudden and significant change in a resident's cognition and behavior over 24 hours. This most likely indicates:
- Normal disease progression of dementia
- Delirium, requiring immediate medical evaluation (Correct answer)
- A new dementia diagnosis
- Caregiver burnout affecting the resident
Correct answer: Delirium, requiring immediate medical evaluation
Sudden cognitive changes over hours to days are characteristic of delirium, which requires urgent medical assessment to identify and treat the underlying cause.
Question 4: Which communication strategy is MOST effective when speaking with a person in the moderate stage of dementia?
- Use long, detailed sentences to provide full context
- Speak rapidly to hold the person's attention
- Use short, simple sentences and allow extra time to respond (Correct answer)
- Avoid eye contact to reduce overstimulation
Correct answer: Use short, simple sentences and allow extra time to respond
Short, simple sentences with adequate response time accommodate the processing speed and language deficits of moderate-stage dementia.
Question 5: A family caregiver reports feeling overwhelmed and isolated. The CDP should FIRST:
- Suggest the caregiver place their loved one in a facility
- Provide a list of local and national support resources and respite options (Correct answer)
- Tell the caregiver that burnout is a normal part of dementia care
- Contact adult protective services immediately
Correct answer: Provide a list of local and national support resources and respite options
Providing information about support groups, respite care, and community resources addresses caregiver burden proactively.
Question 6: Which dementia type is associated with Lewy bodies and often includes visual hallucinations and fluctuating cognition?
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Vascular dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies (Correct answer)
- Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Correct answer: Dementia with Lewy bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies is characterized by visual hallucinations, fluctuating cognition, and parkinsonism features.
Question 7: Which restraint-free approach is MOST appropriate for a person with dementia who repeatedly attempts to get out of bed unsafely?
- Apply a vest restraint during sleeping hours
- Lower the bed to its lowest position and use a bed alarm (Correct answer)
- Require the person to remain in a wheelchair during waking hours
- Sedate the person at night with antipsychotic medication
Correct answer: Lower the bed to its lowest position and use a bed alarm
Lowering the bed and using bed alarms are least-restrictive safety interventions that reduce fall risk without physical restraint.
CDP Dementia Care Practices 3
Which eating intervention is MOST appropriate for a person with dementia who has difficulty using utensils?