Certified Senior Advisor Ethical Issues for Seniors Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) who also sells long-term care insurance conducts a needs assessment for a client and then strongly recommends a specific policy from a company that offers the highest commission rates.
This situation presents a primary ethical conflict related to:

Accepted Answer

Conflict of Interest

Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Paternalism

Answer

Ageism

Question 2

In the context of ethics for professionals working with seniors, which principle most directly supports a client's right to make their own choices and decisions, even if those decisions appear unwise to the advisor?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Justice

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Non-maleficence

Question 3

During a home visit, a CSA observes that their 85-year-old client, who has mild dementia, seems fearful of her new live-in caregiver and notices several valuable items are missing. The client dismisses these concerns. What is the CSA's most critical ethical and legal responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Report suspicions of potential exploitation and neglect to Adult Protective Services (APS).

Answer

Respect the client's explanation to avoid undermining her autonomy.

Answer

Contact the client's children immediately to share the concerns.

Answer

Confront the caregiver directly about the missing items and the client's fear.

Question 4

Which of the following actions represents the most significant ethical boundary violation for a Certified Senior Advisor?

Accepted Answer

Borrowing money from a client, even with a signed promissory note and a fair interest rate.

Answer

Referring a client to another trusted professional for services outside the CSA's expertise.

Answer

Sending a sympathy card to a client's family after the client passes away.

Answer

Accepting a small, inexpensive holiday gift from a long-term client.

Question 5

A CSA is working with a 79-year-old client who shows increasing signs of confusion and poor judgment. The client insists on investing his life savings in a high-risk venture. The CSA's primary ethical challenge is to balance the principle of client autonomy with the principle of:

Accepted Answer

Non-maleficence (do no harm)

Answer

Justice (fairness)

Answer

Fidelity (faithfulness)

Answer

Veracity (truthfulness)

Question 6

The ethical principle of informed consent requires that a professional ensures a senior client has done all of the following BEFORE making a decision, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Consulted with their family members about the decision.

Answer

Understood the nature and purpose of the proposed action.

Answer

Been made aware of the potential risks and benefits.

Answer

Received information about reasonable alternatives.