Mental HealthQuestion 139 of 200
A 78-year-old resident has begun drinking large amounts of mouthwash. Empty bottles are found in his bedside drawer. The CNA should:
a.Ignore the behavior since alcohol use is the resident's right
b.Report to the charge nurse immediately, document the observation, and ensure mouthwash with alcohol is removed and replaced with an alcohol-free product as ordered
c.Confront the resident and demand he stop
d.Hide the mouthwash without telling anyone
Explanation
Substance use disorder in older adults is under-recognized and dangerous (falls, GI bleed, drug interactions). Ingesting alcohol-containing mouthwash is a red flag. The CNA must report observations to the nurse so the physician can assess and the IDT can revise the plan (alcohol-free mouthwash, screening, possibly addiction medicine consult). Ignoring (a) abandons clinical duty. Confronting (c) is shaming and outside CNA scope. Hiding without reporting (d) defeats care planning and may itself be a form of self-neglect facilitation. Under W&I §15610.07 self-neglect is a form of reportable elder abuse.
Law Reference: 42 CFR §483.40; W&I §15610.07Practice all 200 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- Under federal regulations, physical restraints in a nursing facility may be used only when:
- A widowed resident with no nearby family says, 'No one ever comes to see me.' Which CNA action BEST addresses her psychosocial well-being?
- A resident's adult daughter visits and becomes loudly critical of the CNA's care in front of the resident. The CNA's BEST response is to:
- Under California Welfare & Institutions Code §15610.07, which of the following is NOT a recognized form of elder abuse?
- A CNA notices unexplained bruises in the shape of fingerprints on a resident's upper arm. The resident whispers, 'The night CNA grabbed me hard.' The CNA's FIRST action is to:
- Under W&I §15630, a mandated reporter who suspects physical abuse of a long-term care resident must make a TELEPHONE report:
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against California CNA Certification Exam · How we review