CNA Certification (Written Exam)Communication and Psychosocial NeedsMedium
A resident with dementia repeatedly asks to see her mother, who died many years ago. What is the best response by the nurse aide?
- ATell her firmly that her mother is dead
- BExplain in detail the exact date her mother died
- CIgnore the question and change the subject abruptly
- DAsk her to tell you about her mother
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Ask her to tell you about her mother
Redirecting the conversation by asking the resident to talk about her mother validates her feelings without causing distress, which is more therapeutic than correcting or confronting her with painful facts.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Correcting harshly can cause emotional distress and repeated grief.
- B. Reinforcing factual death details may cause unnecessary grief and confusion.
- C. Abruptly ignoring can feel dismissive and increase agitation.
Validation Therapy in Dementia Care
A communication technique that acknowledges the resident's feelings and reality rather than correcting or arguing with confused statements.
- Avoid arguing about facts
- Redirect gently to reduce distress
- Validate emotions behind the statement
Memory trick: Feel first, facts later.