Question

A PTA is treating a home health patient who has moderate Alzheimer's disease. The patient had a CVA 6 months ago. Upon arriving to the patient's house, the patient's caregiver told the PTA that the patient has become combative. He starts shouting at the PTA and caregiver. What is the MOST appropriate response by the PTA?

A. Tell the caregiver to administer a low dose of Lithium to calm the patient down
B. Tell the patient that this is not appropriate behavior
C. Immediately notify the neurologist on call
D. Reschedule the therapy session for another day

Answer 1

The PTA should reschedule the therapy session and communicate the patient's behavioral changes with the supervising Physical Therapist, as administering medication or taking immediate drastic measures is not within the scope of practice for a PTA.

Step-by-step explanation:

When dealing with a patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease who becomes combative, the most appropriate response for a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is not to prescribe medication, as PTAs are not authorized to do so. The caregiver's suggestion to administer Lithium, which is not a standard treatment for agitation in Alzheimer's, should not be followed. Instead, the PTA should focus on managing the situation non-pharmacologically.

Telling the patient this is not appropriate behavior (Option B) is unlikely to be effective due to the cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer's disease. Notifying a neurologist (Option C) is an overreaction if the PTA is equipped to handle behavioral disturbances. The best option is to reschedule the therapy session (Option D), as the patient may respond better at a different time. Additionally, the PTA should communicate with the supervising Physical Therapist about the behavioral changes for proper follow-up and care planning.