Senior Care Dementia and Cognitive Care 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which is the most common form of dementia in the United States?
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Alzheimer's disease (Correct answer)
- Frontotemporal dementia
Correct answer: Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease accounts for approximately 60–80% of all dementia cases in the US.
Question 2: Which behavior is commonly associated with moderate-stage Alzheimer's disease?
- Occasional forgetfulness of recent events only
- Significant memory loss, confusion about time/place, and difficulty with ADLs (Correct answer)
- Complete loss of the ability to speak or swallow
- No change in personality
Correct answer: Significant memory loss, confusion about time/place, and difficulty with ADLs
Moderate Alzheimer's is characterized by significant memory impairment, confusion, and increasing dependence with daily activities.
Question 3: What is 'sundowning' in a resident with dementia?
- Preference for evening meals
- Increased confusion, agitation, or restlessness in the late afternoon and evening (Correct answer)
- A symptom of vitamin D deficiency
- Sleeping during daytime hours
Correct answer: Increased confusion, agitation, or restlessness in the late afternoon and evening
Sundowning refers to increased behavioral symptoms of dementia that worsen in late afternoon and evening, possibly linked to circadian disruption.
Question 4: Which communication approach is most effective when caring for a resident with dementia?
- Speak quickly to maintain the resident's attention
- Use short, simple sentences, a calm tone, and non-verbal cues (Correct answer)
- Correct the resident every time they say something inaccurate
- Avoid eye contact to prevent overwhelming the resident
Correct answer: Use short, simple sentences, a calm tone, and non-verbal cues
Simple language, a calm voice, and non-verbal support reduce confusion and improve understanding in residents with dementia.
Question 5: A resident with dementia insists their deceased mother is coming to visit. What is the best response?
- Firmly tell the resident their mother is dead
- Enter the resident's reality with empathy and redirect if needed (Correct answer)
- Agree enthusiastically and make extensive plans for the visit
- Ignore the statement and change the subject immediately
Correct answer: Enter the resident's reality with empathy and redirect if needed
Entering the resident's reality and responding with empathy avoids distress while gently redirecting to comfort and engagement.
Question 6: What is wandering in the context of dementia care, and why is it a safety concern?
- A resident who frequently changes their food preferences
- Purposeless or confused walking that can lead to elopement, falls, or injury (Correct answer)
- A symptom of depression in dementia patients
- A therapeutic walking program
Correct answer: Purposeless or confused walking that can lead to elopement, falls, or injury
Wandering is unplanned, disoriented movement that increases risk of elopement (leaving the facility unsafely), falls, and injury.
Senior Care Dementia and Cognitive Care 1
Which is the most common form of dementia in the United States?