Gerontological Nursing – Exam Prep Flashcards

Flashcards cover fundamental concepts, laws, principles, nursing roles, quality dimensions, clinical interventions, rights, abuse, dementia care, fall prevention and key ageing theories relevant to gerontological nursing.

Which seven core nursing activities are essential when caring for an older adult with a chronic illness?

1) Help set realistic goals; 2) Encourage emotional expression; 3) Maintain & improve self-care; 4) Maintain & improve health; 5) Prevent complications; 6) Maximise quality of life; 7) Provide support, dignity & respect at end-of-life.

Name five organised community services that support older adults at home.

Day centres, sheltered or senior housing, home help, mobile assistance services, self-help groups (plus others such as social services and long-term care).

List the three dimensions of quality in gerontological nursing.

1) Quality of methodology/technology (effectiveness, safety, appropriateness); 2) Quality of staff & relationships (competence, respect, information, autonomy); 3) Quality of organisation (safety, comfort, continuity, equipment).

Give four professional characteristics every nurse should display when working with older adults.

Professional knowledge & experience; sensitivity to emotions; ability to empathise; respectful yet professionally distanced relationship (plus autonomy, responsibility and team skills).

State four key guidelines for high-quality gerontological nursing care.

Holistic approach; health promotion & rehabilitation; maximising quality of life; recognising that ageing is not a disease and distinguishing normal from pathological changes.

On what criteria is nursing care for urinary incontinence evaluated?

Whether the older adult follows advice, uses a toileting schedule, applies hygienic aids, stays socially active, and attends follow-up assessments.

Identify the four care categories used in Slovenian nursing homes.

Category 1 – independent; Category 2 – partial assistance; Category 3 – complete personal care; Category 4 – special care (e.g., dementia).

List five Slovenian laws or strategies that regulate elder care.

Social Welfare Act, Health Care & Health Insurance Act, Health Services Act, Social Welfare Strategy, National Health Care Programme.

What does the principle of ‘plurality of care provision’ mean?

Care may be delivered formally/informally, institutionally/non-institutionally, publicly or privately to match individual needs.

Name six common continence aids for older adults.

Bed pads, pad pants, incontinence briefs, all-in-one diapers, condom catheters, indwelling or intermittent catheters (plus urine collection bags).

What is the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)?

A 30-item yes/no screening tool specifically designed to detect depressive symptoms in older adults.

Give four modern non-pharmacological approaches when caring for a person with dementia.

Environmental adaptations, meaningful activities, validation/re-orientation techniques, reassurance & distraction (plus caregiver education and psychosocial support).

List three main groups of human rights relevant to older adults.

Economic & social rights (work, social security), civil liberties (freedom from abuse, movement), and health-care rights (access to treatment & information).

Define ‘institutional infantilisation’.

Treating an older resident as if they were a child, ignoring their competence and autonomy.

Provide a concise definition of palliative care.

Active holistic care of patients with incurable illness plus support for their families, focusing on physical, psychological, social and spiritual issues up to and including end-of-life and bereavement.

State four elements ensured by integrated elder care.

Needs recognition, constant information flow, multidisciplinary approach, individualised continuous treatment/rehabilitation/care.

Which five precautions make a home safer against falls?

Remove or secure rugs; clear walkways; tidy or tape electrical cords; improve lighting including night lights; install handrails on stairs and in bathroom.

Give three health-education points for an older adult with depression.

Importance of balanced diet & fluids; structured daily activity with good sleep hygiene; fostering self-esteem through positive social interactions.

How can negative ageing stereotypes compromise nursing quality?

They lead to under-estimating needs, reduced communication, neglect of serious conditions, and less involvement of the older person in care decisions.

Describe two ways environment affects an older person’s quality of life and the nurse’s role.

Physical barriers may hinder mobility; social isolation lowers wellbeing. The nurse identifies needs, advises family, arranges aids, meals-on-wheels, transport or home nursing services.

What is ageism?

Discrimination based on age, usually against older adults, affecting their health, dignity and opportunities.

List six common nursing diagnoses linked to basic activities in older adults.

Impaired personal hygiene, ineffective thermoregulation, inability to dress, sleep pattern disturbance, risk for injury, urinary or faecal incontinence.

Outline five nursing steps when abuse of an older adult is suspected.

Inform social worker, observe family dynamics, talk privately with victim, document incidents & actions, maintain trust without judging, involve team members.

According to Henderson, which three daily activities are often impaired in dementia?

Eating & drinking, continence, dressing & undressing (plus others such as mobility and communication).

Give five nursing activities when managing pain in an older adult.

Assess needs; prevent procedure-related pain; monitor verbal & non-verbal cues; support coping strategies; educate about analgesics and employ pharmacological & non-pharmacological interventions.

What is AGE – The European Older People’s Platform?

A European network of ~150 organisations representing 28 million citizens aged 50+, advocating their interests at EU, national and local levels.

State four principles of elder-care policy.

Maintain activity & healthy years; reduce health inequalities; enable long independent living; provide accessible, quality, interdisciplinary care.

Name four forms of elder abuse.

Physical, psychological, financial, neglect (plus sexual abuse and self-neglect).

What is the ‘connective-tissue theory’ of ageing?

Ageing results from increasing cross-links in collagen fibres, making connective tissue less elastic and causing wrinkles, joint stiffness, etc.

Identify five geriatric syndromes.

Frailty, constipation/laxative abuse, urinary incontinence, falls, pressure ulcers (plus delirium, sarcopenia).

Differentiate gerontology and geriatrics.

Gerontology studies ageing in all aspects (biological, social, psychological); geriatrics is the medical specialty diagnosing & treating diseases of older adults.

List three stages of dementia behaviour according to Naomi Feil’s second stage indicators.

Loss of time sense; replacing present people with past figures; strong emotional outbursts with preserved long-term memory but fading short-term memory.

Explain the validation method in dementia care.

Entering the person’s perceived reality with empathy, acknowledging feelings without correction, to build trust and reduce anxiety.

Give four principles for dementia care in institutions.

Normalisation of daily life; interdisciplinary teamwork; individualised care plans; risk analysis to minimise restraints while maximising freedom.

What are the three ageing perspectives (question 5 June 2024)?

Chronological (years lived); functional (ability to perform tasks); subjective/experiential (how ageing is felt and interpreted by the person).

Define institutional care and its main components.

Long-term care delivered in facilities (e.g., nursing homes) providing accommodation, meals, personal assistance, nursing, social support and activities for individuals unable to live independently.

List six typical physical changes of ageing.

Weight change, quick fatigue, muscle laxity, tremors, slower movement, reduced tissue elasticity (also bone loss, sensory decline, circulatory changes).

Why are nursing-home residents categorised? Give two purposes.

To monitor care needs & staffing requirements and to manage costs & evaluate quality outcomes.

Provide two contrasting groups of ageing stereotypes with one example each.

Negative (degrading): “Old people are helpless and grumpy.” Positive (idealising): “Age is just a number; older adults can do everything.”

Give five criteria for assessing self-care ability.

Dressing, eating/drinking, personal hygiene, toileting, mobility (also communication, orientation, medication management).

State three goals of nutrition care for a person with dementia.

Maintain weight & hydration; adapt food texture & environment to encourage intake; monitor and address swallowing or behavioural issues.

What does the UN ‘Charter of the Rights of the Dying’ guarantee?

Respectful non-discriminatory care, pain relief, spiritual support, privacy & dignity, information & participation in decisions, peaceful death, family support.

Name two broad types of biological ageing theories.

Genetic/programmed theories and non-genetic/error (stochastic) theories.

List three age-related immune changes.

Reduced pathogen defence, decreased antibody production, higher susceptibility to infection and cancer (auto-immune diseases may increase).

Describe Stamey’s stage 2 stress urinary incontinence.

Urine leakage occurs with mild exertion (e.g., walking, position change); bladder neck opens during stress.

How much does heart mass increase between ages 30 and 80?

Approximately 1 gram per year (greater in women).

Give four psychological changes commonly seen in older age.

Mental fatigue, narrowing interests, slower short-term memory, reduced adaptability (plus emotional lability).

Define ‘ageing in place’.

Enabling older adults to live independently and safely in their familiar home environment for as long as possible.

What does the acronym RUMBA stand for in setting nursing standards?

Relevant, Understandable, Measurable, Behavioural, Achievable.

State five expanded roles of the gerontological nurse.

Therapist, caregiver, educator, advocate, researcher.

Which Slovenian NGO focuses on dementia issues?

Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia.

List Ramovš’s three age groups with one key characteristic each.

65-75 yrs: adapting to retirement, active & healthy; 76-85 yrs: adapting to health decline and losses; 86+ yrs: increasing dependency and need for help.

What is the main goal of the Slovenian ‘Long-Living Society Strategy’?

To create a society where people age actively, healthily and safely with full social inclusion and accessible care.

Cite three biological changes in connective tissue or skeleton with ageing.

Reduced elasticity, decreased bone density, slower wound healing.

Give three reasons for categorising nursing care costs.

Track how care needs affect expenses; provide basis for patient-day costing; inform resource allocation and budgeting.

List four main goals of gerontological nursing documentation.

Ensure systematic planned care, continuity, legal record, evidence for quality evaluation and resource management.

What are the first two steps in the nursing process for personal hygiene of an older adult?

Assessment of self-care ability; formulation of nursing diagnosis (e.g., impaired self-care: bathing/hygiene).

Name four risk factors for late-life depression.

Chronic pain/disability, recent bereavement, cerebrovascular events (e.g., stroke), significant life changes such as moving into an institution.

State two functions of self-help groups for caregivers of people with dementia.

Provide emotional support & education; reduce caregiver stress and improve coping strategies.

What is the purpose of ‘analysis of risk’ in institutional dementia care?

To balance safety and freedom, using the least restrictive measures only when absolutely necessary.

Identify three major outputs of quality assurance in gerontological nursing.

Lower complication rates, higher patient satisfaction, efficient resource utilisation.

Explain why ‘older adults are slow to communicate’ is considered a stereotype.

It generalises all older people, may cause staff to ignore or not give them time, despite individual variations in communication ability.

Give two ethical priorities when caring for older adults.

Respect for autonomous decision-making; safeguarding dignity and privacy.

List three national-level policy aims for elder health care.

Reduce disparities; prolong healthy life expectancy; ensure accessible, high-quality, interdisciplinary home or institutional care.

Name four fall-prevention assistive devices.

Handrails, grab bars, walking sticks, non-slip footwear.

Give one example of economic elder abuse.

Family member coercing an older adult to sign over property or pension.

Why is an indwelling catheter considered the ‘worst’ continence option?

High risk of infection and complications; should be last resort.

What does ‘functional ageing’ refer to?

Decline in ability to perform daily activities, which can be slowed by healthy lifestyle.

Mention two ways nurses support ‘maximum independence’.

Encourage older adults to perform tasks they can manage; provide adaptive equipment rather than doing everything for them.

State three objectives of discharge planning for hospitalised older adults.

Prepare recovery plan at home, coordinate community services, educate patient & caregivers for safe transition.

Define ‘frailty’.

A geriatric syndrome marked by decreased reserves and resistance to stressors, leading to vulnerability to adverse outcomes.

List three reasons nurses document suspected abuse.

Legal evidence, continuity of care, tracking effectiveness of interventions.

What are two main groups of biological ageing theories?

Programmed (genetic) theories and damage/error (stochastic) theories.

Give one advantage of day-care centres for older adults.

Provide social interaction and structured activities while allowing continued living at home.

Explain ‘multidisciplinary’ versus ‘interdisciplinary’ care.

Multidisciplinary: professionals work in parallel; interdisciplinary: professionals collaborate and integrate plans for unified goals.

What does ‘holistic approach’ in gerontological nursing mean?

Addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs within the older adult’s environmental context.