HCA Cognitive and Mental Health 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident with dementia repeatedly asks where her deceased husband is. What is the BEST response from the HCA?
- Tell her he passed away and show her the death certificate
- Redirect her attention to a pleasant activity or topic (Correct answer)
- Ignore the question and walk away
- Remind her every hour that he is gone
Correct answer: Redirect her attention to a pleasant activity or topic
Redirecting a person with dementia to a pleasant activity is therapeutic and avoids repeated distress from re-learning a loss.
Question 2: Which stage of Alzheimer's disease is typically characterized by the need for full assistance with all activities of daily living?
- Mild (early) stage
- Moderate (middle) stage
- Severe (late) stage (Correct answer)
- Pre-clinical stage
Correct answer: Severe (late) stage
In the severe late stage of Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to communicate verbally and require complete assistance with ADLs.
Question 3: A client with schizophrenia tells you that the television is sending secret messages meant for him. This symptom is called a:
- Hallucination
- Delusion of reference (Correct answer)
- Compulsion
- Flight of ideas
Correct answer: Delusion of reference
A delusion of reference is a false belief that ordinary events or objects are specifically directed at or connected to oneself.
Question 4: When assisting a client who is experiencing a panic attack, the HCA should FIRST:
- Leave the room and call 911 immediately
- Stay calm, remain with the client, and speak in a slow reassuring voice (Correct answer)
- Offer the client a large glass of water and a snack
- Ask the client to explain what triggered the attack
Correct answer: Stay calm, remain with the client, and speak in a slow reassuring voice
A calm, reassuring presence helps de-escalate a panic attack and prevents the client from feeling abandoned during an acute anxiety episode.
Question 5: Which of the following is a characteristic of delirium that distinguishes it from dementia?
- It develops gradually over months
- It is always caused by Alzheimer's disease
- It has an acute onset and fluctuating consciousness (Correct answer)
- It primarily affects long-term memory first
Correct answer: It has an acute onset and fluctuating consciousness
Delirium is characterized by acute onset and fluctuating levels of consciousness, distinguishing it from the gradual progression of dementia.
Question 6: A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) insists on checking the door lock 20 times before leaving. The HCA should:
- Force the client to leave after the first check
- Allow the ritual while encouraging treatment discussion with the care team (Correct answer)
- Mock the behavior to discourage it
- Lock the door yourself without telling the client
Correct answer: Allow the ritual while encouraging treatment discussion with the care team
The HCA should respect the client's dignity, allow the behavior to avoid escalating anxiety, and report patterns to the care team for proper intervention.
Question 7: Which neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with depression when present in insufficient levels?
- Dopamine only
- Serotonin (Correct answer)
- Acetylcholine
- GABA
Correct answer: Serotonin
Low serotonin levels are strongly associated with depression, which is why many antidepressants (SSRIs) work by increasing serotonin availability.
HCA Cognitive and Mental Health 2
A resident with dementia repeatedly asks where her deceased husband is.
What is the BEST response from the HCA?