CDP Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CDP exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CDP Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CDP Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample CDP Questions & Answers
1. A caregiver notices a resident becomes aggressive only during mealtime. The FIRST step in assessment should be to:
A systematic antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) analysis starts with identifying what specifically triggers the aggression before any intervention.
2. Sensory-based interventions such as aromatherapy, hand massage, and weighted blankets are theorized to reduce agitation in dementia primarily by:
Tactile and olfactory sensory inputs that are calming are thought to activate the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' response, reducing physiological and behavioral arousal.
3. When a person with moderate dementia expresses fear about dying alone, the most therapeutically appropriate response from the dementia practitioner is to:
Validating emotional expression, offering reassurance, and documenting the disclosure supports both therapeutic relationship and person-centered end-of-life planning.
4. Which approach BEST supports mealtime success for a person with moderate-to-severe dementia who has difficulty initiating eating?
Hand-over-hand guidance and verbal cueing help initiate the motor sequence of eating when initiation is impaired.
5. Under HIPAA, which individuals may access a cognitively impaired patient's health information without their direct consent?
HIPAA permits disclosure to a legally designated personal representative who has authority under state law to make healthcare decisions.
6. A surrogate decision-maker is applying the 'substituted judgment' standard. This means they are asking:
Substituted judgment requires the surrogate to set aside their own preferences and decide as the patient would have decided, based on prior expressed values, beliefs, and wishes.