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Quiz: Daily Living and Caregiving Skills

Test your understanding of practical caregiving techniques for daily living activities with these 10 review questions. Click "Show Answer" to check your work.

1. What is the difference between Basic ADLs and Instrumental ADLs (IADLs)?

  1. Basic ADLs are fundamental self-care tasks (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting); IADLs are more complex tasks (managing finances, cooking, using transportation)
  2. Basic ADLs are done in hospitals; IADLs are done at home
  3. Basic ADLs are performed by caregivers; IADLs are performed by the person
  4. There is no meaningful difference between them
Show Answer

The correct answer is A. Basic ADLs cover essential personal care such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, and mobility. IADLs are higher-level skills such as meal preparation, housework, medication management, finances, shopping, and transportation. In dementia, IADLs are typically affected first in the early stage, while basic ADLs decline as the disease progresses.

Concept Tested: Activities of Daily Living

2. Why should caregivers follow a "do with, not for" approach when assisting with ADLs?

  1. It saves the caregiver time
  2. It is a legal requirement in all states
  3. It preserves the person's remaining abilities, dignity, and self-esteem while still providing needed support
  4. It prevents the caregiver from being held responsible for accidents
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. The "do with, not for" approach encourages caregivers to prompt, guide, and break tasks into simple steps rather than taking over completely. This preserves whatever abilities remain, supports dignity, reduces learned helplessness, and maintains the person's sense of competence. It may take longer, but the goal is meaningful care, not efficiency.

Concept Tested: Dignity Preservation

3. A husband is bathing his wife who has moderate dementia. She starts crying and pushing him away. What is the BEST first response?

  1. Continue firmly so the bath can be finished quickly
  2. Stop, stay calm, reassure her, and try again later or on a different day
  3. Scold her for being difficult
  4. Get in the shower with her to show it's safe
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Bathing is often the most distressing ADL due to fears about falling, loss of privacy, cold, and confusion. Forcing a bath can cause trauma and make future attempts harder. A calm response, validation of her feelings, distraction, and trying again at a different time (or switching caregivers) usually succeeds. Remember that daily full baths are not necessary.

Concept Tested: Bathing Assistance

4. Which clothing adaptation is MOST helpful for a person with middle-stage dementia who struggles with buttons and zippers?

  1. Clothing with Velcro closures, elastic waists, and slip-on shoes
  2. Complicated outfits with many layers
  3. Only formal clothing with buttons to preserve independence
  4. Clothing that requires help from at least two caregivers
Show Answer

The correct answer is A. Simplifying clothing reduces frustration and maintains independence. Elastic waists, Velcro instead of laces, front-opening tops rather than pullovers, and slip-on shoes allow the person to participate in dressing for longer. Pairing this with laying out clothes in order and offering limited choices further supports success during daily dressing routines.

Concept Tested: Dressing Assistance

5. A caregiver notices the person she cares for is holding food in his cheeks without swallowing (pocketing). What should she do?

  1. Ignore it and continue feeding as normal
  2. Gently prompt him to swallow, offer a sip of liquid, give smaller bites, and check the mouth between bites
  3. Force his mouth open and remove the food
  4. Stop all eating permanently
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Pocketing is common as swallowing difficulties emerge and can lead to choking or aspiration. Offering a sip of liquid, giving verbal cues to swallow, using smaller bites, and checking the cheeks between bites all help. Persistent pocketing or choking warrants a speech therapist swallow evaluation, which may recommend diet texture modifications.

Concept Tested: Feeding Strategies

6. What is "prompted voiding" and why is it used for someone with dementia?

  1. A medication that stops incontinence completely
  2. A scheduled toileting routine (typically every 2 to 3 hours and after meals) that reduces accidents by supporting the person to use the bathroom regularly
  3. A surgical procedure to restore bladder control
  4. Letting the person use the bathroom only when they ask
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Prompted voiding means taking the person to the bathroom at regular intervals even when they don't say they need to go, because people with dementia often lose awareness of the urge. Combining this with clear pathways, good lighting, elastic-waist clothing, and a picture sign on the bathroom door supports dignity and reduces incontinence episodes.

Concept Tested: Toileting Support

7. When using a gait belt for a sit-to-stand transfer, which practice is correct?

  1. Place the belt directly on bare skin and as tight as possible
  2. Use the belt to lift the person's entire weight straight up
  3. Place the belt over clothing around the waist with room for 2 to 3 fingers, and use it for stability and guidance, not lifting
  4. Loop the belt around the person's neck for control
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The correct answer is C. A gait belt is worn over clothing around the waist, snug enough to fit 2 to 3 fingers underneath, with the buckle off-center from the spine. It provides a secure handhold for guidance and stability during transfers and walking. It is not used to lift the person; proper body mechanics (bent knees, close position, strong legs) keep both caregiver and person safe.

Concept Tested: Transfer Techniques

8. A caregiver's mother with dementia is awake and agitated at 2 AM, insisting it is time to go to work. What is the BEST approach?

  1. Argue and explain that she retired 20 years ago
  2. Turn on all the lights and start a stimulating conversation
  3. Give her a large meal and caffeinated drink
  4. Approach calmly, speak softly, assess needs (bathroom, pain), gently redirect, and guide her back to bed without bright lights or arguments
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The correct answer is D. Nighttime waking is common in dementia. Arguing or reorienting causes more distress, and bright lights, big meals, and stimulation make it harder to return to sleep. A calm, reassuring response that addresses underlying needs, uses dim lighting, and gently guides the person back to bed supports both the person and the caregiver's own sleep.

Concept Tested: Sleep Hygiene

9. A family caregiver is designing a daily routine for her father with moderate dementia. Which principle should guide her planning?

  1. Keep the schedule completely rigid with no flexibility
  2. Pack the day full so he is constantly busy and never rests
  3. Maintain consistent timing for meals, hygiene, and bedtime while including meaningful activities, rest periods, and flexibility for bad days
  4. Change the routine daily to prevent boredom
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The correct answer is C. Consistent routines reduce confusion, anxiety, and challenging behaviors by providing predictability. The best routines balance active and passive time, social and solitary moments, and include meaningful activities that match the person's abilities. Flexibility matters too; illness, medical visits, or bad days require adjustment while returning to routine as soon as possible.

Concept Tested: Daily Routines

10. Which statement best reflects the core principle of dignity preservation in caregiving?

  1. Use baby talk and nicknames like "sweetie" and "good girl" to show affection
  2. Get tasks done as quickly as possible regardless of the person's feelings
  3. Only involve the person when it is convenient for the caregiver
  4. Respect privacy, avoid infantilizing language, honor preferences, and make eye contact at the person's level
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The correct answer is D. Dignity preservation means treating the person as a competent adult even as abilities decline. This includes closing doors during personal care, covering exposed areas, using their preferred name, speaking respectfully, honoring lifelong preferences, and approaching at eye level. These small choices communicate respect and maintain self-worth throughout the course of dementia.

Concept Tested: Dignity Preservation