Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is dementia?
The loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.
A common cause of dementia is _______.
Alzheimer's Disease
What causes Alzheimer's Disease?
Tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain, eventually causing dementia.
When communicating with a resident with Alzheimer's Disease, how should the nursing assistant speak?
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If a resident is frightened or anxious, which of the following should the nursing assistant do?
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What does it mean if a resident perseverates?
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If a resident does not remember how to perform basic tasks, what should the nursing assistant do?
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What is the purpose of using nonslip mats, tub seats, and hand-holds?
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How should tasks be communicated to residents with cognitive impairments?
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Why is marking the bathroom with a sign or picture useful?
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Good or Bad: Break tasks down into simple steps, explaining one step at a time.
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Good or Bad: If the resident is incontinent, do not give him fluids because it makes the problem worse.
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Good or Bad: Choose clothes that are simple to put on.
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Good or Bad: Check the skin regularly for signs of irritation.
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Good or Bad: Follow Standard Precautions when caring for the resident.
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Good or Bad: Do not encourage exercise, as this will make the resident more agitated.
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Good or Bad: Serve finger foods if the resident tends to wander during meals.
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Good or Bad: Schedule meals at the same time every day.
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Good or Bad: Serve new kinds of foods as often as possible to stimulate the resident.
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Good or Bad: Put only one kind of food on the plate at a time.
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Good or Bad: Use plain white dishes for serving food to residents with Alzheimer's disease.
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Good or Bad: Do not encourage independence, as this can lead to aggressive behavior.
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Good or Bad: Reward behavior with smiles and warm touches.
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What does it mean if a resident is agitated?
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What is sundowning?
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What are catastrophic reactions?
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What describes violent behavior?
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What does pacing and wandering refer to?
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What are hallucinations or delusions?
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What is depression in the context of residents?
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What is perseveration?
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What does disruptiveness refer to?
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What is inappropriate social behavior?
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What is inappropriate sexual behavior?
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What is pillaging?
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What does hoarding refer to?
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What are sleep disturbances?
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What is reality orientation?
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What does validating mean?
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What is reminiscence therapy?
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What is activity therapy?
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Study Notes
Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
- Dementia involves loss of cognitive skills such as thinking, memory, reasoning, and communication.
- A common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's Disease.
- Alzheimer's leads to tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits in the brain, ultimately resulting in dementia.
Communication with Residents
- When interacting with residents who have Alzheimer's, nursing assistants should speak slowly and in a lower tone of voice.
- It's crucial to check body language to avoid appearing tense or hurried, especially if a resident is frightened or anxious.
Behavioral Responses and Support
- Perseveration is when residents repeat words, phrases, questions, or actions.
- Encourage residents who struggle with basic tasks to do what they can, promoting a sense of independence.
Safety and Task Management
- Use nonslip mats, tub seats, and hand-holds to enhance safety during bathing.
- Break tasks into simple steps, explaining one step at a time to facilitate understanding.
- Use signs or pictures to mark bathrooms as reminders for residents.
Daily Living Adjustments
- Choose clothing that is simple to put on to assist residents in dressing.
- Regularly check skin for signs of irritation, ensuring overall health.
- Serve finger foods to residents who tend to wander during meals, facilitating easier eating.
- Schedule meals consistently at the same time each day to provide structure.
Eating Habits
- Put only one type of food on the plate at a time to minimize confusion.
- Use plain white dishes for serving food, as this helps residents with Alzheimer's focus on the food itself.
Behavior Management
- Reward behavior positively with smiles and warm touches.
- Avoid actions that discourage independence, which can lead to aggressive behavior.
Types of Agitation and Reactions
- Agitation refers to a state of being excited, restless, or troubled.
- Sundowning occurs when a resident becomes restless and agitated during the late afternoon or evening.
- Catastrophic reactions are characterized by overreactions to stimuli.
- Violent behavior includes aggressive actions such as hitting or threatening others.
- Pacing involves walking back and forth, while wandering refers to aimless walking around.
Psychological Conditions
- Hallucinations and delusions can manifest as seeing or believing in things that aren't there.
- Depression is indicated by withdrawal, lack of energy, or disinterest in previous activities.
Behavioral Challenges
- Disruptiveness includes behaviors that disturb others, like yelling or banging on furniture.
- Inappropriate social behavior includes cursing or name-calling.
- Inappropriate sexual behavior can embarrass others and involves actions such as undressing or unwanted touching.
- Pillaging is the act of taking another person's belongings.
- Hoarding refers to collecting items in a guarded manner, often stemming from a sense of insecurity.
Therapeutic Approaches
- Sleep disturbances are common amongst residents with Alzheimer's, affecting their rest and overall health.
- Reality orientation techniques utilize tools like calendars and lists to help residents remember their environment.
- Validating feelings and experiences can provide comfort and affirmation to residents.
- Reminiscence therapy encourages discussing the past, fostering connections and mental engagement.
- Activity therapy focuses on enjoyable activities to prevent boredom and frustration, promoting mental health.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your knowledge on confusion, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease with these flashcards based on Chapter 5 of 'Hartmann Nursing Assistant Care The Basics.' Dive into essential terms and definitions to reinforce your understanding of these critical topics in nursing care.
