Mixed Deck — All CALA Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real CALA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All CALA Topics flashcards as text
What is a 'preadmission screening' in the context of assisted living admissions?
Answer: An evaluation to determine whether the prospective resident's needs fall within the facility's scope of care
Preadmission screening evaluates a prospective resident's physical, cognitive, and functional status to ensure the facility can safely and appropriately meet their care needs before admission.
An administrator who notices a pattern of medication errors but takes no corrective action to avoid operational disruption is demonstrating:
Answer: Ethical negligence and breach of duty of care
Inaction in the face of a known patient safety risk constitutes ethical negligence and potential legal liability for the administrator.
Which of the following contributes to resident quality of life in assisted living?
Answer: Providing engaging social and recreational activities
Activities and social engagement promote mental and emotional well-being, enhancing residents’ overall quality of life.
What does 'aging in place' mean in the context of assisted living?
Answer: Supporting residents in remaining in their current setting as their care needs evolve
Aging in place means adapting services and supports so residents can remain in their chosen setting as needs change.
In assisted living financial management, what does 'census' refer to?
Answer: Number of occupied resident beds
Census refers to the number of occupied resident beds or units at a given time, directly impacting revenue calculations.
A resident's family member complains that their loved one's room temperature is consistently too cold. What is the most appropriate initial step for the facility manager?
Answer: Investigate the HVAC function in that room and check if the resident's comfort preferences are documented in their care plan
Investigating the physical system and checking care plan documentation addresses both the mechanical issue and the resident's individualized comfort needs simultaneously.
Which leadership style is MOST effective when an assisted living facility is undergoing a major regulatory change requiring rapid staff adaptation?
Answer: Transformational
Transformational leadership inspires staff to embrace change by communicating vision and building commitment.
A staff member reports witnessing a colleague verbally demean a resident with dementia. As administrator, what is your FIRST action?
Answer: Document the incident and begin a formal investigation
Documenting and investigating ensures due process while protecting the resident from further harm.
A resident with Parkinson's disease has an increased fall risk. Which environmental modification is most appropriate?
Answer: Install non-slip flooring and ensure adequate lighting
Environmental modifications like non-slip surfaces and proper lighting reduce fall risk while preserving mobility.
An administrator is reviewing the facility's insurance coverage and finds the general liability policy has not been updated in five years. What is the most important reason to review and update coverage?
Answer: Coverage limits that were adequate five years ago may be insufficient given increased operational scope, resident census, or litigation trends
Facilities change over time, and outdated coverage limits may leave the facility financially exposed if claims exceed the original policy amounts.
What is the purpose of a 'go-bag' or emergency kit maintained for each resident in an assisted living facility?
Answer: To hold essential documents, medications, and supplies needed if the resident must evacuate quickly
A go-bag contains essential items a resident would need during rapid evacuation, including medications, medical records summaries, identification, and comfort items.
When must an assisted living facility conduct a fire drill according to most state regulations?
Answer: Quarterly on each shift
Most state regulations require fire drills to be held quarterly, ensuring all staff on each shift are trained in evacuation procedures.
Under the Controlled Substances Act, which DEA schedule includes medications with the highest accepted medical use but also high potential for abuse, such as hydrocodone combinations?
Answer: Schedule III
Hydrocodone combination products are classified as Schedule III substances, which have accepted medical use and moderate-to-low potential for physical dependence.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a facility's preventive maintenance (PM) schedule?
Answer: To systematically service equipment before failures occur, extending lifespan and ensuring safety
A preventive maintenance schedule proactively services equipment at regular intervals to prevent failures, extend useful life, and maintain a safe environment for residents.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what is an employer required to provide to a qualified employee with a disability?
Answer: Reasonable accommodation unless it causes undue hardship
The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the organization.
Which practice best supports safe medication self-administration for cognitively intact assisted living residents who prefer to manage their own medications?
Answer: Conduct a self-administration assessment, document the resident's capacity, store medications safely, and monitor for changes in condition
A documented self-administration assessment verifies the resident's ability to safely manage medications, while ongoing monitoring protects the resident if cognitive or physical status changes.
Which government agency often oversees assisted living licensing?
Answer: State health or social services department
State health departments or departments of social services typically regulate and license assisted living facilities.
What is the Incident Command System (ICS) used for in an assisted living emergency response?
Answer: A standardized management structure that clarifies roles and communication during an emergency
ICS is a standardized, scalable management framework that establishes clear command, roles, and communication channels during emergency incidents.
A resident refuses to take a prescribed medication. What is the legally and ethically correct first action for facility staff to take?
Answer: Document the refusal and notify the prescribing physician
Respecting resident autonomy requires documenting the refusal and notifying the physician so the care plan can be updated; covert administration is illegal and unethical.
What is the 'length of stay' metric important for in assisted living financial planning?
Answer: It tracks how long residents remain at the facility, which influences census stability and revenue forecasting
Length of stay measures how long residents live at the facility, which affects revenue predictability and helps administrators forecast census changes and admissions needs.