UNAR Mental Health and Behavioral Support 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should a CNA respond to a resident with dementia who is confused and agitated?
- Speak calmly, redirect attention, validate feelings, and maintain a safe environment (Correct answer)
- Argue with them about reality
- Restrain them immediately
- Ignore the behavior
Correct answer: Speak calmly, redirect attention, validate feelings, and maintain a safe environment
Calm redirection and validation are more effective than confrontation for managing confusion and agitation in dementia.
Question 2: What is sundowning in dementia care?
- Increased confusion and agitation that occurs in the late afternoon and evening (Correct answer)
- Morning confusion
- A sleeping disorder
- A medication side effect
Correct answer: Increased confusion and agitation that occurs in the late afternoon and evening
Sundowning is common in dementia patients and may be related to fatigue, reduced lighting, and disruption of circadian rhythms.
Question 3: What is reality orientation?
- Techniques to help confused residents maintain awareness of time, place, and person (Correct answer)
- Forcing residents to accept their diagnosis
- A type of medication
- A restraint technique
Correct answer: Techniques to help confused residents maintain awareness of time, place, and person
Reality orientation uses environmental cues, calendars, clocks, and gentle reminders to help residents stay oriented.
Question 4: How should a CNA handle a resident who is crying?
- Offer comfort, listen empathetically, provide privacy, and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Tell them to stop crying
- Ignore it
- Leave the room
Correct answer: Offer comfort, listen empathetically, provide privacy, and report to the nurse
Emotional support through presence, empathetic listening, and reporting helps address the underlying cause.
Question 5: What is validation therapy?
- Acknowledging and accepting a confused resident's feelings and reality rather than correcting them (Correct answer)
- Proving the resident wrong
- A medical test
- A physical therapy technique
Correct answer: Acknowledging and accepting a confused resident's feelings and reality rather than correcting them
Validation therapy respects the emotional truth of what a confused person is experiencing rather than forcing reality correction.
Question 6: What are the stages of grief and how should a CNA respond?
- Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance — provide empathetic support at each stage (Correct answer)
- There is only one stage
- CNAs should not address grief
- Grief always follows the same timeline
Correct answer: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance — provide empathetic support at each stage
The Kubler-Ross stages describe common grief responses; CNAs support residents by being present and empathetic at each stage.
UNAR Mental Health and Behavioral Support 1
How should a CNA respond to a resident with dementia who is confused and agitated?