Ch.5 Confusion, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease

Question 1

————— is the inability to think clearly and logically.

Answer 1

Confusion

Question 2

————— is a state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly. It is usually temporary.

Answer 2

Delirium

Question 3

Confusion Guidelines:

Answer 3

• 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.

Question 4

One of the causes of confusion is __________

Answer 4

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Question 5

List for possible causes of delirium:

1)
2)
3)
4)

Answer 5

1) infections
2) disease
3) fluid imbalances
4) poor nutrition

Question 6

True or false?

Drugs and alcohol may also cause delirium?

Answer 6

True

Question 7

As a person ages, some of the ability to think logically and clearly may be lost.
This ability is called __________.

Answer 7

Cognition

Question 8

__________ is a general term that refers to a serious loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.

Answer 8

Dementia

Question 9

One of the common causes of dementia is __________.

Answer 9

Alzheimer’s disease

Question 10

True or false?

Parkinson’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly?

Answer 10

False

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly

Question 11

True or false?

The only short way to determine a AD at this time is by autopsy (examination of the body after death).

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or false?

Symptoms of a AD appear suddenly?

Answer 12

False

Symptoms of a A.D. appear gradually

Question 13

True or false?

For a person with AD, skills used over a lifetime are usually kept longer.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

Communicating with residents who have Alzheimer’s disease guidelines:

Answer 14

• 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.

Question 15

What should you do if the resident repeatedly asked to go home?

Answer 15

Redirect or guide the conversation and/or the residence activities to something he enjoys.

Question 16

What should you do if the resident has lost most verbal skills?

Answer 16

Use nonverbal skills. As speaking abilities decline, people with AD will still understand touch, smiles, and laughter for much longer.

Question 17

What’s one thing you can do if the resident has problems with elimination?

Answer 17

Check her every 30 minutes. This can help determine “bathroom time”. Take the resident to the bathroom just before her bathroom time.

Question 18

What’s one thing you can do if the resident has problems with poor nutrition due to lack of eating?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

How do you help a resident who doesn’t want to eat?

Answer 19

Guide the resident through the meal.
Provide simple instructions.
Offer regular drinks of water, juice, and other fluids to prevent dehydration.

Question 20

When a person with AD gets restless and agitated in the late afternoon, evening, or night, it is called __________.

Answer 20

Sundowning

Question 21

What’s one thing an NA can do if a resident experiences sundowning?

Answer 21

Set a bedtime routine and keep it.

Question 22

When a person with AD overreacts to something, it is called a __________.

Answer 22

Catastrophic Reaction

Question 23

One thing that may trigger Catastrophic Reaction is __________.

Answer 23

Overstimulation (too much noise or activity).

Question 24

What is the definition of Violent Behavior?

Answer 24

A resident who attacks, hits, or threatens someone using violence.

Question 25

One thing the NA should do if a resident is violent?

Answer 25

Try to remove triggers

Question 26

A resident who sees, hears, smells, taste, or feels things that are not there is having __________.

Answer 26

Hallucinations

Question 27

A resident who believes things that are not true is having __________.

Answer 27

Delusions

Question 28

What’s one thing the NA should do if a resident is experiencing hallucinations and/or delusions?

Answer 28

Reassure a resident who seems agitated or worried

Question 29

What’s one thing the NA can do if she witnesses inappropriate sexual behavior from a resident?

Answer 29

The NA can gently direct him to a private area

Question 30

What’s one thing the NA should do if a resident Hords or rummages?

Answer 30

Provide a rummage drawer.

Question 31

__________ therapy is letting residents believe they live in the past or in imaginary circumstances.

Answer 31

Validation Therapy

Question 32

Example of Validation Therapy:

Answer 32

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.