Deck 12: Caring for People With Dementia

Question 1

Dementia is a likely cause of behavior demonstrated by a resident who:

A) fails to recognize the staff after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.
B) wanders the halls aimlessly after being medicated for chronic back pain.
C) is usually oriented but now claims that there are mice crawling all over their bed.
D) needs to be introduced to their daughter and son-in-law each time they visit them.

Answer 1

needs to be introduced to their daughter and son-in-law each time they visit them.

Question 2

Which is considered the most common type of dementia?

A) Alzheimer disease
B) HIV encephalopathy
C) Huntington's chorea
D) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Answer 2

Alzheimer disease

Question 3

What changes to the brain is the primary underlying cause of Alzheimer disease?

A) Death of the brain tissue due to lack of blood flow
B) Viral infection of the brain tissue
C) Abnormal protein deposits in the brain tissue
D) Neurotransmitter deficiency

Answer 3

Abnormal protein deposits in the brain tissue

Question 4

Which condition(s) put a person at risk for developing vascular dementia? Select all that apply.

A) Peripheral vascular disease
B) Obesity
C) Smoking
D) Diabetes mellitus
E) Depression

Question 5

The nursing assistant is caring for a resident diagnosed with dementia on an Alzheimer's unit. What action should the nursing assistant take to keep the resident safe?

A) Ensure that there are no residents by the locked door to the unit before releasing the button to allow visitors to enter the unit.
B) Explain to the family that it is alright to take the resident out of the unit to spend time in the open rose garden alone.
C) Open the window by unlocking it in the resident's room when it is warm inside and the air-conditioner is broken.
D) Schedule the resident for activities to keep the resident involved so the resident does not want to leave the unit.

Question 6

The nursing assistant is caring for a client with dementia in the hospital. The assistant enters the client's room with the breakfast tray to find the client fully dressed. The client states, "I have to catch the bus, or I will be late to work." What is the best statement for the assistant to respond with?

A) "You still have time to eat breakfast because the bus is delayed."
B) "You are retired now, so sit down and eat your breakfast."
C) "You are confused, there is no bus, this is a hallway."
D) "Let me help you get your hospital gown on because you're sick."

Question 7

When one of the residents insists that they are the Secretary of Defense, the nursing assistant responds by saying,

A) "It must be very stressful being the Secretary of Defense."
B) "I thought that you were a history teacher for a local high school."
C) "Let's talk about what it was like to serve in the Army during World War II."
D) "You know you are not the Secretary of Defense."

Question 8

The nursing assistant is attempting to help a resident diagnosed with dementia dress for bed. The resident begins to scream and cry and cannot be consoled. What is the best action for the the nursing assistant to take?

A) Leave the room and let the resident dress alone.
B) Firmly tell the resident to stop acting that way and get ready for bed.
C) Break the dressing task into step-by-step, simple, and brief instructions.
D) Speak in a clear language, "Do not fight me, I am trying to help you."

Question 9

When a resident diagnosed with dementia begins undressing in the dining room, the nursing assistant:

A) gently, but firmly, redirects their attention by introducing another activity.
B) lets them continue because stopping them would result in a catastrophic reaction.
C) reports the behavior to the nurse because they may need to be restrained.
D) asks the resident why they are undressing in the dining room.

Question 10

Validation therapy is a therapeutic communication technique used to help manage dementia that stresses the importance of:

A) preserving a person's communication skills.
B) acknowledging the person's reality.
C) encouraging the person to remember and talk about the past.
D) preventing the person from being bored.

Question 11

A nursing assistant best helps a person diagnosed with dementia with activities of daily living (ADLs) by:

A) speaking loudly and with a sense of urgency, so that the person knows what to do.
B) leaving the person detailed written notes to help them remember what to do.
C) using hand gestures to help "walk" the person through the tasks.
D) scheduling the care different times each day so the person is not threatened.

Question 12

A resident diagnosed with dementia gets very agitated at the idea of having to bathe. To help make sure that bath time goes smoothly, the nursing assistant will avoid:

A) using a matter-of-fact, but upbeat tone of voice to tell the resident "it's bath time."
B) allowing the resident to "wear" a towel around the shoulders while bathing.
C) singing the resident's favorite songs to them while they are in the bath.
D) preparing the tub room for the bath in advance.

Question 13

When assisting a person diagnosed with dementia to dress, the nursing assistant will best minimize the person's confusion by:

A) selecting their clothing for them.
B) limiting the number of outfits they can choose from.
C) allowing them to wear the same clothing every day.
D) selecting clothing with big buttons and zippers.

Question 14

A confused resident hits a nursing assistant who reacts by slapping the resident. What will likely happen to the nursing assistant?

A) It depends on whether the slap caused the resident any lasting injury.
B) The nursing assistant will be transferred to another unit.
C) It is allowed if the facility's policies allow staff to defend themselves.
D) The nursing assistant could be fired and barred from employment in health care.

Question 15

A person diagnosed with dementia often refers to staff using foul names in a very mean tone of voice. What is the best action for the nursing assistant to take next?

A) Walking away when the person begins using the offensive language.
B) Telling the person that it is mean-spirited to use those names.
C) Asking to be temporarily assigned to someone else for a while.
D) Remembering that the person cannot be held responsible for their behavior.

Question 16

The nursing assistant is caring for a resident diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes who is always alert and oriented but who suddenly starts undressing in the hall, appearing to be hallucinating. Which action should the assistant take first?

A) Tell the nurse that the resident is experiencing signs and symptoms of delirium.
B) Cover the resident with a nearby blanket and help the resident back to their room.
C) Take the vital signs and report abnormal ones to the registered nurse.
D) Observe the urine for odor, color, and consistency and report any abnormalities.

Question 17

It is true that Alzheimer disease:

A) is a result of plaques and tangles found in the brain's tissue.
B) seldom gets worse the longer the person has the disease.
C) results from abnormal calcium deposits in the brain.
D) has little effect on a person's independence.

Question 18

A catastrophic reaction is most likely to occur when a person diagnosed with dementia is: (Select all that apply.)

A) in an unfamiliar place.
B) unable to express their needs.
C) overstimulated with loud noises.
D) bored or lonely.
E) tired or sick.

Question 19

A resident spends hours each day looking for "something" but never seems to find it. In order to help manage the resident's need to rummage, the nursing assistant:

A) spends time with the resident each day looking for the "something" the resident has lost.
B) encourages the resident to rummage in the dresser drawer where their small personal objects are kept.
C) reinforces for the resident daily that there is nothing lost and that all their belongings are accounted for.
D) asks the resident to describe what is lost and then looks for the object while the resident is distracted.

Question 20

When a resident diagnosed with dementia seems more relaxed about taking a bath when a towel is placed around their shoulders, the nursing assistant determines that the calmness is most likely a result of:

A) showing the resident that the nursing assistant really cares about them.
B) getting the bath done quickly before the resident can become agitated.
C) making the resident feel less exposed during the bath.
D) keeping the resident distracted during the bath.