Ch.5 Confusion, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease Flashcards
————— is the inability to think clearly and logically.
Confusion
————— is a state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly. It is usually temporary.
Delirium
Confusion Guidelines:
- Do not leave a confused resident alone.
- Introduce yourself each time you see the resident.
- Stay calm. Provide a quiet environment.
- Explain what you are going to do, use simple instructions.
- Do not leave cleaning agents or personal care products where the resident can access them.
One of the causes of confusion is __________
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
List for possible causes of delirium:
1)
2)
3)
4)
1) infections
2) disease
3) fluid imbalances
4) poor nutrition
True or false?
Drugs and alcohol may also cause delirium?
True
As a person ages, some of the ability to think logically and clearly may be lost.
This ability is called __________.
Cognition
__________ is a general term that refers to a serious loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.
Dementia
One of the common causes of dementia is __________.
Alzheimer’s disease
True or false?
Parkinson’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly?
False
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly
True or false?
The only short way to determine a AD at this time is by autopsy (examination of the body after death).
True
True or false?
Symptoms of a AD appear suddenly?
False
Symptoms of a A.D. appear gradually
True or false?
For a person with AD, skills used over a lifetime are usually kept longer.
True
Communicating with residents who have Alzheimer’s disease guidelines:
- Use signs, pictures, gestures, or written words to help communicate.
- Use simple words and short sentences. If helping with care, list steps, one at a time.
- Check your body language; make sure you are not tense or hurried.
What should you do if the resident repeatedly asked to go home?
Redirect or guide the conversation and/or the residence activities to something he enjoys.
What should you do if the resident has lost most verbal skills?
Use nonverbal skills. As speaking abilities decline, people with AD will still understand touch, smiles, and laughter for much longer.
What’s one thing you can do if the resident has problems with elimination?
Check her every 30 minutes. This can help determine “bathroom time”. Take the resident to the bathroom just before her bathroom time.
What’s one thing you can do if the resident has problems with poor nutrition due to lack of eating?
Use a simple place setting with one eating utensil.
Remove other items from the table.
Contrasting colors between the interior and exterior of the bowl will work best.
Use plates without a pattern.
How do you help a resident who doesn’t want to eat?
Guide the resident through the meal.
Provide simple instructions.
Offer regular drinks of water, juice, and other fluids to prevent dehydration.
When a person with AD gets restless and agitated in the late afternoon, evening, or night, it is called __________.
Sundowning
What’s one thing an NA can do if a resident experiences sundowning?
Set a bedtime routine and keep it.
When a person with AD overreacts to something, it is called a __________.
Catastrophic Reaction
One thing that may trigger Catastrophic Reaction is __________.
Overstimulation (too much noise or activity).
What is the definition of Violent Behavior?
A resident who attacks, hits, or threatens someone using violence.
One thing the NA should do if a resident is violent?
Try to remove triggers
A resident who sees, hears, smells, taste, or feels things that are not there is having __________.
Hallucinations
A resident who believes things that are not true is having __________.
Delusions
What’s one thing the NA should do if a resident is experiencing hallucinations and/or delusions?
Reassure a resident who seems agitated or worried
What’s one thing the NA can do if she witnesses inappropriate sexual behavior from a resident?
The NA can gently direct him to a private area
What’s one thing the NA should do if a resident Hords or rummages?
Provide a rummage drawer.
__________ therapy is letting residents believe they live in the past or in imaginary circumstances.
Validation Therapy
Example of Validation Therapy:
Mr. Baldwin tells the NA that he is having dinner tonight at a restaurant with his wife. The NA knows his wife has been dead for many years and that Mr. Baldwin can no longer eat in restaurants. Instead of telling him that he is not going out to eat, the NA asks what restaurant he is going to and what he will have. She suggest that he eat a good lunch now because sometimes the service is slow in restaurants.
