Senior Care Safety and Fall Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: After a resident falls, what is the caregiver's first priority?
- Complete an incident report
- Help the resident up immediately to prevent embarrassment
- Assess the resident for injury and call for the nurse (Correct answer)
- Call the resident's family
Correct answer: Assess the resident for injury and call for the nurse
Assessing for injury and notifying the nurse is the immediate priority to ensure prompt medical evaluation.
Question 2: Physical restraints in US long-term care facilities are regulated primarily because:
- They are too expensive
- They can cause physical harm, psychological distress, and violate resident rights (Correct answer)
- They require too many staff to apply
- Residents find them uncomfortable but otherwise safe
Correct answer: They can cause physical harm, psychological distress, and violate resident rights
Federal regulations limit restraint use because restraints can cause injury, deconditioning, and violate residents' rights under OBRA.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a Falling Star program or similar visual indicator in a care facility?
- To identify staff who have won awards
- To visually identify residents at high fall risk so all staff can take precautions (Correct answer)
- To mark rooms that need extra cleaning
- To indicate which residents have ambulatory restrictions
Correct answer: To visually identify residents at high fall risk so all staff can take precautions
Visual fall-risk identifiers on doors or wristbands alert all staff members to a resident's elevated fall risk.
Question 4: Which vitamin deficiency is commonly associated with increased fall risk and bone fragility in seniors?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency weakens muscles and reduces bone density, both of which contribute to falls and fractures in older adults.
Question 5: A resident with a hip fracture who has been cleared to walk should use which assistive device first?
- No device, to promote strength
- A cane for balance
- A standard walker for maximum support (Correct answer)
- A wheelchair only
Correct answer: A standard walker for maximum support
A standard walker provides the most stability for a resident recovering from a hip fracture, reducing load on the healing joint.
Question 6: Which of the following is a correct statement about bed side rails in senior care?
- Full side rails are always required for safety
- Side rails can be a restraint and a potential entrapment hazard requiring individualized assessment (Correct answer)
- Side rails should always be raised when any resident is in bed
- Side rails have no safety risks when used properly
Correct answer: Side rails can be a restraint and a potential entrapment hazard requiring individualized assessment
Half rails or improperly used full rails can trap residents, and raising rails without justification constitutes a restraint.
Senior Care Safety and Fall Prevention 2
After a resident falls, what is the caregiver's first priority?