CDP Environmental Design & Modification 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of using contrasting colors between walls and floors in dementia care environments?
- To make the space more aesthetically pleasing for visitors
- To help residents with visual-perceptual difficulties distinguish surfaces and prevent falls (Correct answer)
- To identify different units or wings of the facility
- To reduce the overall cost of interior design
Correct answer: To help residents with visual-perceptual difficulties distinguish surfaces and prevent falls
Contrasting colors between walls and floors help persons with dementia who have visual-perceptual difficulties distinguish surfaces, reducing the risk of falls.
Question 2: Which lighting intervention is most beneficial for persons with dementia to help regulate sleep-wake cycles?
- Dim, warm lighting maintained throughout the entire day
- Bright light therapy administered particularly in the morning hours (Correct answer)
- Continuous fluorescent overhead lighting at all times
- Complete darkness during daytime hours to encourage rest
Correct answer: Bright light therapy administered particularly in the morning hours
Bright light therapy, especially in the morning, helps regulate circadian rhythms in persons with dementia who often experience disrupted sleep-wake cycles.
Question 3: In dementia care environmental design, 'wayfinding' refers to:
- Training staff to navigate the facility efficiently during emergencies
- GPS tracking systems used to monitor residents with wandering behaviors
- Design elements that help residents orient themselves and navigate their environment (Correct answer)
- Marking fire exits clearly for emergency evacuation purposes
Correct answer: Design elements that help residents orient themselves and navigate their environment
Wayfinding refers to environmental cues, landmarks, and design features that help persons with dementia navigate and orient themselves within their living space.
Question 4: Why might mirrors be removed or covered in some dementia care settings?
- Mirrors create dangerous glare that poses a hazard to residents
- Persons with dementia may not recognize their reflection, causing fear or agitation (Correct answer)
- Mirrors are too expensive to maintain in healthcare settings
- Mirrors uniformly increase wandering behaviors in all residents
Correct answer: Persons with dementia may not recognize their reflection, causing fear or agitation
Persons with advanced dementia often cannot recognize their own reflection, which can cause fear, agitation, or the belief that a stranger is present in the room.
Question 5: Which type of flooring pattern should be avoided in dementia care environments?
- Solid, neutral colors throughout common areas
- High-contrast stripes or patterns that can be perceived as steps or holes (Correct answer)
- Non-slip textured surfaces near bathrooms and wet areas
- Subtle wood-grain patterns in resident rooms
Correct answer: High-contrast stripes or patterns that can be perceived as steps or holes
High-contrast patterns on floors can be misperceived by persons with dementia as three-dimensional objects, holes, or steps, increasing fall risk and anxiety.
Question 6: Which environmental modification is most effective for reducing elopement risk in memory care units?
- Locking all exterior doors with key pads that only staff can access
- Painting exit doors the same color as surrounding walls to camouflage them (Correct answer)
- Placing a large stop sign directly on all exit doors
- Using alarm bracelets on every resident regardless of elopement risk
Correct answer: Painting exit doors the same color as surrounding walls to camouflage them
Camouflaging exit doors by painting them the same color as surrounding walls reduces their visual salience, decreasing the likelihood that persons with dementia will attempt to elope.
Question 7: What is the recommended approach to noise management in dementia care environments?
- Background music should be played at high volume to provide constant stimulation
- Minimize unnecessary background noise and use soft, familiar music selectively (Correct answer)
- Television should remain on continuously in all common areas for engagement
- Complete silence must be maintained in all dementia care areas at all times
Correct answer: Minimize unnecessary background noise and use soft, familiar music selectively
Minimizing unnecessary background noise and using soft, familiar music selectively reduces agitation and improves the ability of persons with dementia to focus and communicate.
CDP Environmental Design & Modification 1
What is the primary purpose of using contrasting colors between walls and floors in dementia care environments?