Dementia Training Certification Dementia Training Communication Techniques & Behavioral Strategies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person with dementia keeps trying to leave the care facility saying 'I need to pick up my children from school.' The children are adults. The BEST response is:
- Lock the exit and tell them they cannot leave
- Engage with the feeling: 'You sound like a very devoted parent. Tell me about your kids.' (Correct answer)
- Explain clearly that their children are grown and do not need pickup
- Ignore the behavior until it passes
Correct answer: Engage with the feeling: 'You sound like a very devoted parent. Tell me about your kids.'
Engaging with the emotion behind the behavior — parental love and responsibility — validates the person without reinforcing a false belief or causing distress.
Question 2: Which stage of the DICE model (Describe, Investigate, Create, Evaluate) involves identifying potential medical, environmental, or caregiver-related causes of a behavior?
- Describe
- Investigate (Correct answer)
- Create
- Evaluate
Correct answer: Investigate
The Investigate step examines potential causes of behavioral symptoms including pain, depression, caregiver approach, and environment.
Question 3: Short, simple sentences are recommended when speaking to someone with dementia primarily because:
- Long sentences are disrespectful to older adults
- Dementia impairs working memory and processing speed, making complex language harder to decode (Correct answer)
- Medical staff prefer documentation brevity
- People with dementia respond only to commands
Correct answer: Dementia impairs working memory and processing speed, making complex language harder to decode
Cognitive decline reduces the ability to process and retain complex verbal information, so concise sentences improve comprehension.
Question 4: A caregiver notices a resident with dementia hoarding bread in their room. The appropriate response is:
- Remove the bread immediately and explain why hoarding is unsafe
- Explore the behavior empathetically and ensure nutritional needs are met (Correct answer)
- Report the behavior as a safety hazard without intervening
- Restrict meal access to prevent further hoarding
Correct answer: Explore the behavior empathetically and ensure nutritional needs are met
Hoarding often reflects unmet needs such as food insecurity fears; exploring the behavior and addressing underlying needs is more effective than removal.
Question 5: When a person with dementia uses repetitive questioning, the most effective long-term strategy is:
- Answer each question only once, then refuse to respond further
- Identify the emotional need behind the question and address it proactively (Correct answer)
- Post written answers around the room for self-reference
- Distract the person with a snack each time they ask
Correct answer: Identify the emotional need behind the question and address it proactively
Repetitive questioning often signals anxiety or an unmet emotional need; addressing the root cause reduces the frequency of the behavior.
Question 6: The term 'catastrophic reaction' in dementia care refers to:
- A life-threatening medical emergency
- An extreme emotional outburst disproportionate to the triggering event (Correct answer)
- Rapid physical decline following a fall
- Refusal to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
Correct answer: An extreme emotional outburst disproportionate to the triggering event
A catastrophic reaction is an intense emotional or behavioral response — such as crying, screaming, or hitting — triggered by overwhelming stimuli or frustration.
Question 7: Which activity is MOST appropriate for a person in the late stage of dementia to promote meaningful engagement?
- Group trivia games requiring memory recall
- Gentle hand massage with soft music and familiar scents (Correct answer)
- Reading newspapers aloud independently
- Completing a 500-piece puzzle
Correct answer: Gentle hand massage with soft music and familiar scents
Sensory-based activities like gentle touch, familiar music, and pleasant aromas remain meaningful even when cognitive capacity is severely limited.
Dementia Training Certification Dementia Training Communication Techniques & Behavioral Strategies 3
A person with dementia keeps trying to leave the care facility saying 'I need to pick up my children from school.' The children are adults.
The BEST response is: