CNA Care for Residents with Cognitive Impairment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of dementia is characterized by stepwise decline and is linked to small strokes or blood vessel disease in the brain?
- Alzheimer's disease
- Vascular dementia (Correct answer)
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
Correct answer: Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia results from reduced blood flow to the brain due to strokes or vascular disease, causing a stepwise rather than gradual decline.
Question 2: A cognitively impaired resident becomes physically aggressive during personal care. The FIRST action the CNA should take is:
- Physically restrain the resident to complete the task
- Stop the task, ensure safety, and give the resident time to calm down (Correct answer)
- Document the behavior and continue the task immediately
- Call security to manage the resident
Correct answer: Stop the task, ensure safety, and give the resident time to calm down
Stopping the task and allowing the resident to calm down protects both the resident and the CNA from injury.
Question 3: What does the term 'catastrophic reaction' mean in the context of dementia care?
- A medical emergency such as a stroke
- An extreme overreaction to a minor stressor caused by the resident's inability to cope (Correct answer)
- A fall resulting in a serious injury
- A sudden worsening of dementia symptoms due to medication
Correct answer: An extreme overreaction to a minor stressor caused by the resident's inability to cope
A catastrophic reaction is an excessive emotional or behavioral response to a task or stimulus that exceeds the resident's cognitive capacity to handle.
Question 4: Which action BEST promotes dignity when providing personal care to a resident with dementia?
- Performing care quickly without explanation to reduce confusion
- Explaining each step of care before doing it, even if the resident may not understand (Correct answer)
- Skipping explanations since the resident will forget anyway
- Having family members present for all personal care tasks
Correct answer: Explaining each step of care before doing it, even if the resident may not understand
Explaining each step respects the resident's dignity and can reduce anxiety even when understanding is limited.
Question 5: A resident with dementia is found eating inedible items such as paper. This behavior is known as:
- Dysphagia
- Pica (Correct answer)
- Apraxia
- Perseveration
Correct answer: Pica
Pica is the eating of non-food items and can occur in residents with advanced dementia who have lost the ability to distinguish food from non-food objects.
Question 6: When caring for a resident with dementia who has difficulty eating, which strategy is MOST helpful?
- Leave the resident alone to eat independently to encourage autonomy
- Offer finger foods and provide hand-over-hand assistance as needed (Correct answer)
- Withhold meals until the resident is hungry enough to cooperate
- Puree all food without asking the resident or family for input
Correct answer: Offer finger foods and provide hand-over-hand assistance as needed
Finger foods and hand-over-hand guidance can help residents with apraxia or impaired judgment participate in eating.
Question 7: Which behavior MOST commonly signals pain in a cognitively impaired resident who cannot verbally communicate?
- Increased socializing and participation in activities
- Facial grimacing, guarding a body part, or increased agitation (Correct answer)
- Sleeping more than usual with a peaceful expression
- Requesting more meals throughout the day
Correct answer: Facial grimacing, guarding a body part, or increased agitation
Nonverbal pain cues such as grimacing, guarding, and agitation are key indicators in residents who cannot self-report pain.
CNA Care for Residents with Cognitive Impairment 3
Which type of dementia is characterized by stepwise decline and is linked to small strokes or blood vessel disease in the brain?