Dementia Care

at a Glance

Catharine Jenkins, Laura Ginesi, Berni Keenan

Multiple Choice: Chapter 40 Reality orientation

Question 1. There is a debate around whether orientating a person with dementia to reality is necessary or therapeutic. The following are some positive and negative considerations:

A. It is cruel to orientate a person with dementia to reality when the modern world is insensitive and unhelpful
B. Reality orientation should be used to make sure a person with dementia always knows what day of the week it is, who the Prime Minister is and what is going on with the weather
C. If the person asks a clear straightforward question, their helper should answer them truthfully and sensitively, validating any emotions the person with dementia shares
D. Reality orientation is now unfashionable and has been superseded by cognitive stimulation