HAC Personal Hygiene & Daily Living Assistance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client refuses to bathe for the third day in a row. What is the BEST first action for the healthcare aide?
- Force the client into the shower immediately
- Document the refusal and report it to the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Ignore the refusal and try again tomorrow without noting it
- Ask a family member to scold the client
Correct answer: Document the refusal and report it to the supervising nurse
Documenting and reporting a repeated refusal ensures the care team can assess whether there is an underlying medical or psychological cause.
Question 2: When assisting a client with denture care, the aide should store dentures overnight in:
- A dry paper towel
- Hot water to sterilize them
- Cool water or denture-cleaning solution (Correct answer)
- The client's bedside drawer without water
Correct answer: Cool water or denture-cleaning solution
Dentures must be kept in cool water or denture solution when not worn to prevent warping and drying out.
Question 3: A male client needs perineal care after a bowel movement. The aide should clean the perineal area using which technique?
- Back to front, using one stroke per wipe
- Front to back, using a clean section of cloth for each stroke (Correct answer)
- In circular motions starting from the outer area
- Only rinse with water, no wiping needed
Correct answer: Front to back, using a clean section of cloth for each stroke
Front-to-back cleaning with a clean section each stroke prevents introducing fecal bacteria into the urethral area.
Question 4: Which water temperature is generally recommended when giving a client a complete bed bath?
- Cold water (60–70°F) to stimulate circulation
- Warm water (105–115°F / 40–46°C) (Correct answer)
- Hot water (120°F+) to kill bacteria
- Room temperature water only
Correct answer: Warm water (105–115°F / 40–46°C)
Water at 105–115°F is warm enough for comfort and cleansing without risking burns, especially for clients with reduced sensation.
Question 5: When shampooing a bedridden client's hair, the aide should position the client:
- Flat on their back with no head support
- In a high Fowler's position (90 degrees)
- With the head tilted back over a shampoo trough or basin at the edge of the bed (Correct answer)
- On their side with hair hanging off the mattress
Correct answer: With the head tilted back over a shampoo trough or basin at the edge of the bed
A shampoo trough placed under the head allows water to drain away from the client's face and body safely.
Question 6: A client has a hearing aid. Before assisting with ear hygiene, the aide should FIRST:
- Remove and set aside the hearing aid (Correct answer)
- Clean around the hearing aid while it is in place
- Submerge the hearing aid in water along with the ear
- Turn the hearing aid volume to maximum
Correct answer: Remove and set aside the hearing aid
Hearing aids must be removed before any ear or facial hygiene to prevent water damage to the device.
Question 7: During nail care for a diabetic client, the aide notices the toenails are very thick and yellowed. The CORRECT action is:
- Trim the nails short and apply antifungal cream
- Soak the feet and trim the nails as usual
- Refrain from cutting the nails and report the finding to the nurse (Correct answer)
- File the nails down aggressively to remove the discoloration
Correct answer: Refrain from cutting the nails and report the finding to the nurse
Diabetic clients have high infection risk and poor healing; thickened, discolored nails may indicate fungal infection and require professional nail care.
HAC Personal Hygiene & Daily Living Assistance 2
A client refuses to bathe for the third day in a row.
What is the BEST first action for the healthcare aide?