CCS CCS Nutrition & Dietary Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which nutrient is most important for maintaining muscle mass in older adults receiving long-term care?
- Carbohydrates
- Fat
- Protein (Correct answer)
- Fiber
Correct answer: Protein
Adequate protein intake is critical for maintaining muscle mass and preventing sarcopenia in older adults.
Question 2: A client on a low-sodium diet requests a salty snack. What is the most appropriate response from a care specialist?
- Provide the salty snack because the client requested it
- Ignore the request
- Explain the dietary restriction and offer an approved alternative (Correct answer)
- Let the family decide
Correct answer: Explain the dietary restriction and offer an approved alternative
The care specialist should explain the dietary restriction respectfully and offer a low-sodium alternative that satisfies the client's craving safely.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a thickening agent added to beverages for a client with a swallowing disorder?
- To improve the taste of beverages
- To slow the flow of liquid and reduce aspiration risk (Correct answer)
- To add calories to the client's diet
- To improve medication absorption
Correct answer: To slow the flow of liquid and reduce aspiration risk
Thickening agents slow liquid flow to a consistency the client can safely swallow, reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
Question 4: A care specialist should recognize which symptom as a sign of dehydration in a client?
- Frequent urination with clear urine
- Dark yellow urine and dry mouth (Correct answer)
- Increased appetite and energy
- Swollen ankles and feet
Correct answer: Dark yellow urine and dry mouth
Dark yellow urine and dry mouth are classic early signs of dehydration indicating the body needs more fluid intake.
Question 5: Which food is most appropriate to offer a client who is lactose intolerant and needs a calcium-rich option?
- Regular cow's milk
- Ice cream
- Fortified almond milk (Correct answer)
- Butter
Correct answer: Fortified almond milk
Fortified almond milk provides calcium without lactose, making it a suitable dairy-free alternative for lactose-intolerant clients.
Question 6: When recording a client's nutritional intake, what percentage of a meal consumed should typically trigger a report to the care team?
- Less than 75%
- Less than 25% (Correct answer)
- Less than 50%
- Less than 90%
Correct answer: Less than 25%
Consuming less than 25% of a meal is generally a threshold that warrants reporting to the care team to assess for nutritional risk.
CCS CCS Nutrition & Dietary Support 2
Which nutrient is most important for maintaining muscle mass in older adults receiving long-term care?