Which of the following is NOT one of the three categories of programming?

• A. Maintenance
• B. Supportive
• C. Empowerment
• D. Validation Therapy

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how activity programming for residents is organized into three main types that guide what the program aims to achieve. Maintenance activities are designed to preserve physical and cognitive abilities, keeping residents actively engaged in routines that sustain function. Supportive activities focus on social interaction, emotional comfort, and assistance to help residents participate in daily life. Empowerment activities place residents in the driver’s seat—allowing them to make choices, direct their activities, and exercise autonomy.

Validation Therapy, while a recognized communication approach in dementia care that focuses on acknowledging feelings and experiences, is not a category of programming. It’s a therapeutic technique used in interactions, not a separate programming category.

So the option that doesn’t fit among the three categories is Validation Therapy.