CNA mental health and social needs practice questions
Updated · Reviewed against official sources
Mental health and social needs questions focus on calm, person-centered responses: redirect rather than argue with a resident who has dementia, report signs of depression, respect cultural and spiritual needs, and support comfort at the end of life.
Mental health and social needs drill (10 questions)
- 10 multiple-choice questions
- Untimed — take your time.
- Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can close the tab and resume.
10 free questions in this topic; full access unlocks all 20. See pricing
What this topic covers
- Dementia and Alzheimer's care, wandering and sundowning
- Depression, anxiety and behavior changes
- Grief, dying and post-mortem care basics
- Cultural, spiritual and sexual needs
- Keeping residents socially engaged
Sample question
A resident with Alzheimer's disease asks every few minutes where her husband is. Her husband died years ago. What is the best response?
- Tell her he is at work and will visit soon
- Ignore the question until she stops asking
- Remind her firmly each time that her husband died so she can accept reality
- Gently redirect her, for example by asking her to tell you about him
Show answer
Answer: D. Gently redirect her, for example by asking her to tell you about him
Validating feelings and redirecting reduces distress. Repeating that he died can cause fresh grief each time, and inventing stories can backfire.
Quick answers
- How should a CNA respond when a resident with dementia is agitated?
- Stay calm, speak softly, do not argue or reason with them, look for a cause such as pain, hunger or needing the bathroom, and gently redirect to another activity.
- Are dementia questions on the CNA exam?
- Care of residents with cognitive impairment is a common content area on nurse aide exams. Check your state's candidate handbook for the exact outline.