New Jersey Assisted Living Administrator (CALA) Licensure Examination
1. Which of the following best describes "Aging in Place"?
A. The process of moving to a more appropriate living environment as one's needs change.
B. A government program that provides home modifications for seniors.
C. A process whereby individuals remain in their living environment despite the physical and/or
mental decline and growing needs for supportive services that may occur in the course of aging.
D. The transition from independent living to a nursing home.
Correct Answer – C
Rationale – Aging in Place is defined as the process of remaining in one's own living
environment despite age-related decline and increasing needs for support.
2. Which of the following best describes ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)?
A. Hobbies and social engagements
B. The functions or tasks for self-care, such as dressing, bathing, toileting, transfer, locomotion,
bed mobility, and eating.
C. Instrumental tasks like managing money and transportation
D. Exercises prescribed by a physical therapist
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – ADLs are specifically defined as functions or tasks for self-care, including dressing,
bathing, toileting, transfer, locomotion, bed mobility, and eating.
3. Which of the following best describes the core concept of "Assisted Living" as defined by
the provided content?
A. A medical facility focused on acute care and rehabilitation.
,B. *A coordinated array of supportive personal and health services available 24 hours per day
that promotes resident self-direction, independence, individuality, privacy, and dignity.*
C. A cost-effective alternative to home health care.
D. A residential facility that does not provide any health-related services.
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – Assisted living is defined as a coordinated array of supportive personal and health
services available 24/7 that emphasizes promoting resident self-direction, independence,
individuality, privacy, and dignity in a homelike setting.
4. Which of the following best describes "Bounded Choice"?
A. Allowing residents complete autonomy regardless of risk.
B. Limits placed on a resident's choice as a result of an assessment which indicates that such
choices place the resident or others at a risk of harm.
C. The choices offered in a facility's meal plan.
D. A legal term for when a guardian makes all decisions.
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – Bounded Choice involves limiting a resident's choices when an assessment shows
those preferences would place the resident or others at risk of harm or violate facility norms or
the rights of others.
5. Which of the following best describes a Comprehensive Personal Care Home (CPCH)?
A. A facility that provides skilled nursing care 24 hours a day.
B. A facility where residents must share a room with three or more people.
C. A facility licensed to provide room and board to four or more unrelated adults, with residential
,units having no more than two residents and a lockable door.
D. A facility that is not permitted to provide any assisted living services.
Correct Answer – C
Rationale – A CPCH is defined as a licensed facility providing room and board to four or more
unrelated adults, with residential units housing no more than two residents and featuring a
lockable door.
6. Which of the following best describes a "Managed Risk" process?
A. Immediately restricting a resident's activities at the first sign of any potential danger.
B. Transferring a resident to a nursing home when they become a fall risk.
C. The process of balancing resident choice and independence with the health and safety of the
resident and others, which includes discussing risks and negotiating a formal plan.
D. A legal document that absolves the facility of all responsibility.
Correct Answer – C
Rationale – Managed Risk is the formal process of balancing resident choice with safety, which
involves discussing potential adverse consequences and negotiating a plan to avoid or reduce
negative outcomes.
7. Which of the following is a required component of the "Process of Medication
Administration"?
A. Pre-pouring medications for all residents for the entire shift.
B. Seeing that the resident takes the medication if it is oral.
C. Disposing of unused medication immediately after administration.
D. Calculating new dosages based on resident response.
, Correct Answer – B
Rationale – The defined process of medication administration includes removing a dose,
verifying the order, giving the dose to the resident, seeing that the resident takes it (if oral), and
recording the required information.
8. Which of the following best describes the "Medication Administration Record" (MAR)?
A. A log of all medications ordered by the facility's medical director.
B. An individual resident record that contains the resident's name, medication details, date and
time of administration, and initials of the person administering it.
C. A pharmacy invoice for medications delivered to the facility.
D. A record of a resident's medication preferences.
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – The MAR is an individual resident record containing specific information including
resident name, medication strength, dosage, administration details, and the initials of the
administering individual.
9. Which of the following best describes the training requirement for a Medication Aide
(CMA)?
A. A 10-hour online course.
B. *A department-approved minimum 30-hour training course conducted by an approved RN
and pharmacist.*
C. A two-year associate's degree in nursing.
D. On-the-job training supervised by another CMA.
1. Which of the following best describes "Aging in Place"?
A. The process of moving to a more appropriate living environment as one's needs change.
B. A government program that provides home modifications for seniors.
C. A process whereby individuals remain in their living environment despite the physical and/or
mental decline and growing needs for supportive services that may occur in the course of aging.
D. The transition from independent living to a nursing home.
Correct Answer – C
Rationale – Aging in Place is defined as the process of remaining in one's own living
environment despite age-related decline and increasing needs for support.
2. Which of the following best describes ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)?
A. Hobbies and social engagements
B. The functions or tasks for self-care, such as dressing, bathing, toileting, transfer, locomotion,
bed mobility, and eating.
C. Instrumental tasks like managing money and transportation
D. Exercises prescribed by a physical therapist
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – ADLs are specifically defined as functions or tasks for self-care, including dressing,
bathing, toileting, transfer, locomotion, bed mobility, and eating.
3. Which of the following best describes the core concept of "Assisted Living" as defined by
the provided content?
A. A medical facility focused on acute care and rehabilitation.
,B. *A coordinated array of supportive personal and health services available 24 hours per day
that promotes resident self-direction, independence, individuality, privacy, and dignity.*
C. A cost-effective alternative to home health care.
D. A residential facility that does not provide any health-related services.
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – Assisted living is defined as a coordinated array of supportive personal and health
services available 24/7 that emphasizes promoting resident self-direction, independence,
individuality, privacy, and dignity in a homelike setting.
4. Which of the following best describes "Bounded Choice"?
A. Allowing residents complete autonomy regardless of risk.
B. Limits placed on a resident's choice as a result of an assessment which indicates that such
choices place the resident or others at a risk of harm.
C. The choices offered in a facility's meal plan.
D. A legal term for when a guardian makes all decisions.
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – Bounded Choice involves limiting a resident's choices when an assessment shows
those preferences would place the resident or others at risk of harm or violate facility norms or
the rights of others.
5. Which of the following best describes a Comprehensive Personal Care Home (CPCH)?
A. A facility that provides skilled nursing care 24 hours a day.
B. A facility where residents must share a room with three or more people.
C. A facility licensed to provide room and board to four or more unrelated adults, with residential
,units having no more than two residents and a lockable door.
D. A facility that is not permitted to provide any assisted living services.
Correct Answer – C
Rationale – A CPCH is defined as a licensed facility providing room and board to four or more
unrelated adults, with residential units housing no more than two residents and featuring a
lockable door.
6. Which of the following best describes a "Managed Risk" process?
A. Immediately restricting a resident's activities at the first sign of any potential danger.
B. Transferring a resident to a nursing home when they become a fall risk.
C. The process of balancing resident choice and independence with the health and safety of the
resident and others, which includes discussing risks and negotiating a formal plan.
D. A legal document that absolves the facility of all responsibility.
Correct Answer – C
Rationale – Managed Risk is the formal process of balancing resident choice with safety, which
involves discussing potential adverse consequences and negotiating a plan to avoid or reduce
negative outcomes.
7. Which of the following is a required component of the "Process of Medication
Administration"?
A. Pre-pouring medications for all residents for the entire shift.
B. Seeing that the resident takes the medication if it is oral.
C. Disposing of unused medication immediately after administration.
D. Calculating new dosages based on resident response.
, Correct Answer – B
Rationale – The defined process of medication administration includes removing a dose,
verifying the order, giving the dose to the resident, seeing that the resident takes it (if oral), and
recording the required information.
8. Which of the following best describes the "Medication Administration Record" (MAR)?
A. A log of all medications ordered by the facility's medical director.
B. An individual resident record that contains the resident's name, medication details, date and
time of administration, and initials of the person administering it.
C. A pharmacy invoice for medications delivered to the facility.
D. A record of a resident's medication preferences.
Correct Answer – B
Rationale – The MAR is an individual resident record containing specific information including
resident name, medication strength, dosage, administration details, and the initials of the
administering individual.
9. Which of the following best describes the training requirement for a Medication Aide
(CMA)?
A. A 10-hour online course.
B. *A department-approved minimum 30-hour training course conducted by an approved RN
and pharmacist.*
C. A two-year associate's degree in nursing.
D. On-the-job training supervised by another CMA.
