Ch.36 geriatric

Pneumonia and urinary tract infections are common in patients who are bedridden.

True

Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment can all cause vision problems in the geriatric patient.

True

Some older adults may not take all of their medications to save money.

True

Taste can be diminished in an older patient due to a decrease in the number of taste buds.

True

A health care power of attorney is an advance directive that is exercised by a person who has been authorized by the patient to make medical decisions for the patient.

True

Most outdoor hypothermia deaths involve geriatric patients.

False

Neuropathy is a dysfunction of the central nervous system.

False

Broken bones are common in the geriatric population and shouldn't be splinted in a manner appropriate to the injury.

False

Irritation of the lining of the stomach or ulcers may not cause forceful vomiting that tears the esophagus.

False

Trauma is always isolated to a single issue when you are assessing and caring for a geriatric patient.

False

Inflammation of the gallbladder will present with left upper quadrant pain and fever.

False

There is a higher mortality from penetrating trauma in older adults.

True

The blood glucose level will be greater than 600 mg/dL in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

False

Most geriatric suicides occur in people who have recently not been diagnosed with depression.

False

Your first words to the patient and the attitude behind them can gain or lose a patients trust.

True

The treatment goal of a stroke is to salvage as much brain tissue as possible.

True

Hip fractures are more likely to occur when the patient has osteoporosis.

True

Decreased liver function makes it easier for the liver to detoxify the blood.

False

The heart hypertrophies with age, likely in response to a chronically increased afterload imposed by stiffened blood vessels.

True

Respiratory rates in a geriatric patient with chest pain tend to be lower.

False

A general complaint of weakness and dizziness can be an indication of something more serious, such as a heart problem or pneumonia.

True

Changes in the cardiovascular performance of a geriatric patient are the direct consequence of aging.

False

Multiple disease processes and multiple and/or vague complaints can make the assessment complicated.

True

Loss of mechanisms to protect the upper airway include decreased cough and gag reflexes.

True

The "S" in the GEMS diamond stands for Social Assessment.

True

The EMT should specifically ask about any supplements a patient is taking either by itself or in addition with over-the-counter and/or prescribed.

True

Stage III of ulcer development is invasion to muscle or bone.

False

Decubitus Ulcers can develop sores in as little as 35 minutes.

False

Osteoarthritis affects 35% to 45% of the population older than 55 years old.

False

Dementia can best be described as the gradual onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of psychomotor and social skills.

True

Presbycusis is age related hearing loss.

True

Geriatrics is the assessment and treatment of disease in someone who is 60 years or older.

False

As an EMT, you should make every attempt to avoid agism, which is stereotyping of older people that can lead to poor patient assessment and care.

True

The same injury in a geriatric patient who is 80 or 90 years old can result in pneumonia and even death

True

Sedentary behavior when healing can predispose a patient to pneumonia and blood clots which may interfere with healing and can cause death.

True