Mrs. Park, who has dementia, pushes her plate away and says the food is poisoned. What should the nursing assistant do?

• A.Insist she eat it and tell her the idea is ridiculous
• B.Eat a bite yourself and demand that she now finish the plate
• C.Tell her the cook admitted it and will be punished today
• D.Stay calm, avoid arguing, offer a different food choice if allowed, and report the concern to the nurse

Why

Arguing with a fixed false belief rarely helps and can escalate fear. Offering an acceptable alternative and reporting the episode lets the nurse assess safety, nutrition, and possible causes.

Content outline: Psychosocial Care Skills - Emotional and Mental Health Needs: Dementia Care · From the Psychosocial Care Skills practice bank (PS-028).

Practice this domain as a full test

More Dementia & Alzheimer's Care questions

• Mr. Bennett, who has Alzheimer's disease, insists his late wife is in the hallway waiting for him. What is the best response?
• A resident with dementia keeps packing a bag and saying she must go home to cook for her children, who are now adults. How should the nursing assistant respond?
• Mrs. Singh becomes more restless, confused, and irritable each day in the late afternoon. This pattern is most consistent with what, and what helps?
• A resident with dementia walks repeatedly toward the exit, saying he needs to get to work. What is the safest response?
• A resident with Alzheimer's disease asks, 'When is lunch?' five minutes after being told, and then asks again. How should the nursing assistant respond?