CALA Medication Management & Pharmacy Services 3

Question 1

Which class of medications requires the most stringent monitoring in assisted living residents because of the high risk of falls, sedation, and cognitive decline in older adults?

Accepted Answer

Psychotropic medications

Answer

Psychotropic medications (antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants) carry heightened risks for elderly residents, including falls, sedation, and cognitive impairment, requiring close monitoring.

Question 2

Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) standards applicable to some assisted living contexts, antipsychotic medications used for behavioral symptoms in dementia residents require which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Documented clinical justification, informed consent, and regular reassessment for continued need

Answer

Antipsychotics for dementia-related behaviors require documented clinical rationale, resident/surrogate informed consent, and periodic reassessment to justify continued use and minimize risk.

Question 3

A resident's medication is recalled by the FDA due to contamination concerns. What is the administrator's first priority action?

Accepted Answer

Immediately quarantine the recalled medication, stop administration, notify the prescribing physician, and contact the pharmacy for replacement

Answer

An FDA recall requires immediate cessation of use, quarantine of affected stock, physician notification, and obtaining a safe replacement through the pharmacy to protect resident safety.

Question 4

What documentation must accompany a resident when they are transferred from an assisted living facility to a hospital emergency department regarding their medications?

Accepted Answer

A current medication list or medication administration record showing all current medications, doses, and frequencies

Answer

Transferring a complete and current medication list ensures emergency providers can avoid harmful drug interactions, duplicate therapies, or contraindicated treatments.

Question 5

Which practice best supports safe medication self-administration for cognitively intact assisted living residents who prefer to manage their own medications?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a self-administration assessment, document the resident's capacity, store medications safely, and monitor for changes in condition

Answer

A documented self-administration assessment verifies the resident's ability to safely manage medications, while ongoing monitoring protects the resident if cognitive or physical status changes.

(CALA) Certified Assisted Living Administrator Practice Test

(CALA) Certified Assisted Living Administrator Practice Test

CALA Medication Management & Pharmacy Services 3