A client with dementia, who is usually very calm, becomes agitated and starts yelling loudly, 'Get out! You're stealing my things!' at other residents during the facility's daily afternoon social hour. What is the HCA's immediate priority?

Question: A client with dementia, who is usually very calm, becomes agitated and starts yelling loudly, 'Get out! You're stealing my things!' at other residents during the facility's daily afternoon social hour. What is the HCA's immediate priority?

Answer options: ✅ Remove the client gently from the stimulating environment to a quieter space.

• Tell the client firmly that no one is stealing their things and they need to calm down.
• Ask other residents to leave the area immediately to protect them.
• Search the client's room with them to prove their items are still there.

Correct answer: Remove the client gently from the stimulating environment to a quieter space.

Explanation: When a client with dementia becomes agitated in a stimulating environment, the immediate priority is to reduce external triggers. Gently moving them to a quieter space can help de-escalate the situation and prevent further distress for the client and others.