CNA Certification (Written Exam)Communication and Psychosocial NeedsHard
A resident with moderate dementia insists it is time to pick up her children from school, though her children are now adults. Which response by the nurse aide is most appropriate?
- ATell her the school called to say pickup is cancelled today
- BIgnore the comment and walk away without responding
- CRedirect her attention by asking her to help fold laundry with you
- DFirmly explain that her children are grown and no longer in school
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Redirect her attention by asking her to help fold laundry with you
Redirecting focuses the resident's attention on a pleasant, purposeful activity without arguing or confronting the false belief, which can cause distress. Correcting facts (option A) often increases agitation, while lying (option C) is generally discouraged unless part of an approved therapeutic strategy; ignoring dismisses her feelings.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While sometimes used therapeutically, offering a specific false statement isn't the best first-line approach compared to simple redirection.
- B. Ignoring the resident dismisses her feelings and does not address the concern.
- D. Correcting facts with dementia residents often increases distress and agitation.
Redirection in Dementia Care
A technique of gently shifting a confused resident's attention to another activity instead of correcting or arguing about false beliefs.
- Reduces agitation compared to confrontation
- Uses distraction with meaningful activities
- Different from validation, which acknowledges feelings directly
Memory trick: Don't correct—redirect.