IHSS Personal Care & Assistance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An IHSS recipient has a prescription compression stocking. When should the provider apply it?
- After the recipient has been sitting upright for 30 minutes
- In the morning before the recipient gets out of bed (Correct answer)
- Only when the recipient reports leg swelling
- At bedtime to reduce overnight swelling
Correct answer: In the morning before the recipient gets out of bed
Compression stockings are most effective when applied before the recipient rises, as legs have less swelling after lying down all night.
Question 2: When assisting a recipient with ambulation (walking), the IHSS provider should stand:
- Directly in front of the recipient to catch them if they fall forward
- On the recipient's weaker side and slightly behind (Correct answer)
- Behind the recipient holding both shoulders
- On the recipient's stronger side to minimize contact
Correct answer: On the recipient's weaker side and slightly behind
Standing on the weaker side and slightly behind allows the provider to support and guide without obstructing the recipient's path or vision.
Question 3: A recipient with limited mobility needs help changing position in bed every two hours. The PRIMARY reason for this schedule is to:
- Prevent muscle contractures from forming
- Reduce the risk of pressure injuries (bedsores) (Correct answer)
- Promote better digestion and bowel function
- Ensure the recipient remains alert and engaged
Correct answer: Reduce the risk of pressure injuries (bedsores)
Repositioning every two hours relieves sustained pressure on bony prominences, the main cause of pressure ulcers in immobile individuals.
Question 4: Which of the following is a sign of aspiration risk during meal assistance?
- The recipient chews slowly and takes small bites
- Coughing, gurgling voice, or choking during or after eating (Correct answer)
- Preference for soft foods over hard foods
- Eating less than half of the meal
Correct answer: Coughing, gurgling voice, or choking during or after eating
Coughing, a wet or gurgling voice quality, and choking after swallowing indicate food or liquid may be entering the airway, signaling an aspiration risk.
Question 5: When using a mechanical lift to transfer a recipient, the provider must first:
- Test the lift on themselves before using it on the recipient
- Verify the recipient's weight does not exceed the lift's rated capacity and that the sling is the correct size (Correct answer)
- Remove all of the recipient's clothing for safe sling placement
- Obtain written permission from the recipient's physician each time
Correct answer: Verify the recipient's weight does not exceed the lift's rated capacity and that the sling is the correct size
Confirming weight limits and correct sling size prevents equipment failure and injury during mechanical lift transfers.
Question 6: A recipient tells their IHSS provider they have been feeling dizzy when standing up. The provider should:
- Encourage the recipient to stand up quickly to build tolerance
- Assist the recipient to dangle at the edge of the bed for a moment before fully standing, and report the symptom (Correct answer)
- Ignore the complaint unless the recipient actually falls
- Immediately call 911 as this always indicates a stroke
Correct answer: Assist the recipient to dangle at the edge of the bed for a moment before fully standing, and report the symptom
Orthostatic hypotension (dizziness on standing) is common and requires a slow positional change; the symptom should also be reported to the supervising nurse or care manager.
Question 7: Which practice helps prevent cross-contamination when providing personal care to an IHSS recipient?
- Using the same washcloth for the entire body bath to reduce laundry
- Using separate washcloths or areas of the cloth for different body regions, especially face versus perineal area (Correct answer)
- Wiping from the anal area toward the front during perineal care
- Skipping gloves when the recipient has no visible open wounds
Correct answer: Using separate washcloths or areas of the cloth for different body regions, especially face versus perineal area
Using separate cloths or sections for different body areas, and wiping front to back, prevents transferring bacteria from one body area to another.
IHSS Personal Care & Assistance 3
An IHSS recipient has a prescription compression stocking.
When should the provider apply it?