Final answer:
Responding effectively to a resident experiencing sundowning involves maintaining a predictable routine, ensuring adequate lighting, engaging the resident in calming activities, and providing reassurance and comfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you are asking pertains to how a nursing assistant can respond to a resident experiencing sundowning, which is a symptom commonly observed in individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Sundowning typically involves increased confusion, agitation, or anxiety beginning in the late afternoon and stretching into the night. An appropriate response would not be to isolate the resident in a dimly lit room (Option D), as this may exacerbate feelings of confusion or fear.
Effective strategies for addressing sundowning include:
- Maintaining a predictable routine for the resident to reduce agitation
- Ensuring the environment is well-lit during the evening to minimize shadows and reduce fear
- Engaging the resident in calming activities such as listening to soothing music or a gentle walk
- Providing reassurance and comfort to alleviate anxiety
It is important to note that the care approach must be tailored to each resident's preferences and needs.