Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) Practice

In managing late-stage dementia, what approach should be taken instead of reorientation?

1. Validation therapy

2. Ignoring the patient

3. Encouragement of sleep

4. Intensive memory training

The correct answer is: Validation therapy

Validation therapy is an approach that acknowledges and validates the feelings and experiences of individuals with late-stage dementia. Instead of trying to reorient them to their current reality, which can often lead to confusion, frustration, or agitation, validation therapy emphasizes empathy and understanding. It allows caregivers to connect with the patient by engaging with their feelings and the world as they perceive it, which can provide comfort and emotional security. This therapeutic technique promotes a more compassionate interaction that respects the patient's recollections and emotions, even if they don't align with reality. By focusing on validating the patient's perspective, caregivers can enhance the quality of communication and overall emotional well-being, creating a supportive environment that can help reduce distress. In contrast, other approaches, such as ignoring the patient or intensive memory training, are not conducive to the needs of individuals with late-stage dementia. Encouragement of sleep, while important, does not directly address the emotional or cognitive needs of the patient in the same way that validation therapy effectively does.