Chapter 14: Advanced Old-Age and Geriatrics

The term geriatrics refers to the study of:

a. the elderly.

b. care of aging persons.

c. human adaptation to aging.

d. biological, psychological, physiological, and sociological aspects of aging.

d. biological, psychological, physiological, and sociological aspects of aging.

The theory of aging that attributes the age-related cellular changes to an unpaired ion is the theory of:

a. wear and tear.

b. free radical.

c. immune.

d. apoptosis.

b. free radical.

In cultures where ageism prevails, the elderly are:

a. respected and are valued for their contribution to society.

b. used as role models for the younger generation.

c. avoided and made to feel useless.

d. disallowed to take part in community and civic organizations.

c. avoided and made to feel useless.

The White House Conference of 2005 stimulated the:

a. broadening of the definition of elder abuse.

b. increase in the number of assisted living facilities.

c. development of training programs for caregivers.

d. passing of the Older American Act, which supported long-term care strategies.

d. passing of the Older American Act, which supported long-term care strategies

A woman tells the health-care worker that her 85-year-old father is frequently confused about medication doses and frequently

forgets to take his medicines. He usually eats crackers for dinner and sweet snacks for lunch. The daughter lives in a two-bedroom

apartment with her two children and works full time. The health-care worker suggests that the most appropriate placement for him

would be in:

a. the daughter's home.

b. a nursing home.

c. an assisted-living home.

d. a retirement center.

c. an assisted-living home.

The health-care worker recommends the utilization of a senior center for a 79-year-old widow because in addition to a meal, a

senior center can provide:

a. transportation to and from the center.

b. prescription drugs.

c. a venue for socialization.

d. a nurse counselor.

c. a venue for socialization.

A health-care worker passing an open door sees a nursing home resident having sexual intercourse with another resident. The most

appropriate response is to say:

a. "What are you doing? Please remember where you are!"

b. "Let me shut the door to give you more privacy."

c. "I need to notify your physician. Remember your heart condition."

d. "You should wait until all the other residents are in their rooms."

b. "Let me shut the door to give you more privacy."

A 70-year-old man retired 6 months ago after a long career as a newsman. His wife tells the health-care worker that she is

concerned because her husband has stopped going to church, turned over the bill-paying duties to her, and spends most of the time

listening to the radio. The health-care worker recognizes this as:

a. normal in the newly retired.

b. necessary for adjustment to retirement.

c. signs of disengagement and possible early depression.

d. preparation for transition to advanced old age.

c. signs of disengagement and possible early depression.

Among the goals for the aged from Healthy People 2030 is an increased access for the elderly to acquire:

a. comprehensive dental care.

b. preventative health-care services.

c. spiritual counseling.

d. legal assistance.

b. preventative health-care services.

An appropriate strategy when teaching geriatric adults is to:

a. ask them to repeat what they heard because of possible hearing deficits.

b. use many videos and charts to keep their interest.

c. present all the material in one long session rather than two short ones.

d. speed up the presentation because of the short attention span.

a. ask them to repeat what they heard because of possible hearing deficits.

An appropriate nursing action helpful to older adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is to:

a. avoid discussing future lifestyle changes.

b. assure the elder that the condition is stable.

c. encourage confidence in the elder as a competent manager of the disease.

d. assign the responsibility for insulin injections and blood testing to a home

health-care worker.

c. encourage confidence in the elder as a competent manager of the disease.

An elder who lives alone at home says to the home health care worker, "My children haven't visited me in weeks, and I've had no

phone calls either. I don't even have any news about my new granddaughter. I think they have forgotten me." Which response

would be most helpful at this time?

a. "I'm sure they didn't forget you. They must be very busy with your new

granddaughter."

b. "Why don't you give them a call and find out what's happening?"

c. "It sounds as if you are feeling a little neglected at this time."

d. "Well, let's see what your blood pressure is doing. I bet it is low."

c. "It sounds as if you are feeling a little neglected at this time."

When developing a teaching plan for elders, the health-care worker may include family members and significant others because:

a. family support affects the elder's sense of well-being.

b. family members are responsible for care of the elder.

c. the family members may have conflicting views regarding health teaching topics.

d. families need to know how to foster dependence in the elder to prevent serious

injury.

a. family support affects the elder's sense of well-being.

An important consideration in the rehabilitation of a geriatric patient to prevent loss of function from inactivity and immobility is:

a. using assistive devices such as walkers and canes.

b. teaching good nutrition to prevent loss of muscle mass.

c. performing active exercises daily.

d. assessing for safe environment.

c. performing active exercises daily.

The health-care worker is planning a discussion about sexual responses in the aging population. The health-care worker would

make a point to include information relative to that fact that:

a. menopause decreases the sexual response in females.

b. erotic response of the nipple and clitoris decrease.

c. sperm motility is not affected by reduced testosterone.

d. males retain their fertility into the eighth decade of life.

d. males retain their fertility into the eighth decade of life.

Because of changes in the blood vessels, which become narrow with fatty deposits, the geriatric elder is at risk for:

a. hypotension.

b. stroke.

c. increased heart muscle tone.

d. rapid response to anxiety.

b. stroke.

The immune theory of aging proposes that:

a. the aging body becomes immune to the restorative properties of nutritious food,

adequate sleep, and exercise.

b. as body parts begin to age and become dysfunctional, they become immune to the

body's attempt to repair them.

c. the aging person's immune system cannot differentiate between healthy and

defective cells and destroys both kinds.

d. the geriatric elder becomes immune to many therapeutic remedies and can receive

no protection from infection from them.

c. the aging person's immune system cannot differentiate between healthy and

defective cells and destroys both kinds.

The term old-old senescence is categorized as a person who is:

a. 65 to 75 years of age.

b. 76 to 84 years of age.

c. 85 to 99 years of age.

d. over 100 years of age.

c. 85 to 99 years of age.

During an assessment, an 80-year-old man says that his wife died a year ago, his only child moved to another city, and he recently

moved into an apartment in a new neighborhood so he stays indoors most of the time and watches TV. This man:

a. has an opportunity for new social contacts.

b. may be at risk for suicide.

c. should go live with his child.

d. needs the services of Meals on Wheels.

b. may be at risk for suicide.

When planning health-promotion classes for geriatric adults, the health-care worker should include information pertinent to:

a. vitamin supplements, folic acid.

b. hormone replacement therapy, contraception.

c. homicide, motor vehicle accidents.

d. safe home environment, immunizations.

d. safe home environment, immunizations.

Regarding cataracts, the most important point is that they:

a. are rare and are symptoms of other medical conditions.

b. block some of the light to the eye but do not cause blindness.

c. are a normal part of aging; most older people have cataracts in both eyes.

d. occur in both eyes and vision deteriorates at the same rate.

c. are a normal part of aging; most older people have cataracts in both eyes.

An 83-year-old resident in a nursing home spends a great deal of time telling stories about past accomplishments and life

experiences. The health-care worker recognizes that:

a. reminiscing about positive life experiences is therapeutic and helps bring a feeling

of achievement and satisfaction to the elder adult.

b. this may be early senility, as the elder cannot remember from one time to the next

what stories have been told.

c. this story-telling needs to be curtailed to allow others to participate.

d. the reminiscences should not be encouraged, to prevent feelings of bitterness or

anxiety.

a. reminiscing about positive life experiences is therapeutic and helps bring a feeling

Interventions to promote health in the geriatric elder that follow the goals of Healthy People 2030 are primarily focused on:

a. providing a sense of mastery over health problems.

b. managing disease and disability.

c. teaching positive health behaviors.

d. controlling symptoms of illness.

c. teaching positive health behaviors.

The health-care worker encourages the 84-year-old to engage in some physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Such natural

activities appropriate for the able geriatric person include: (Select all that apply.)

a. weight training.

b. dancing.

c. swimming.

d. walking.

e. jogging.

b. dancing.

c. swimming.

d. walking.

e. jogging.

The health-care worker assessing an 85-year-old man for his ability to manage the activities of daily living (ADLs) would assess

his ability to: (Select all that apply.)

a. feed himself.

b. manage his own finances.

c. cook a simple meal.

d. shop for himself.

e. manage some form of transportation.

a. feed himself.

c. cook a simple meal.

d. shop for himself.

Which services does the Older American Act of 2006 include? (Select all that apply.)

a. Elder abuse protection

b. Interventions to combat social isolation

c. Short term care strategies

d. Transportation assistance

e. Assistance with nutrition

a. Elder abuse protection

b. Interventions to combat social isolation

d. Transportation assistance

e. Assistance with nutrition

According to Sanderson (2017), gerontologists list old age as when the prospects of living another ____ years is not realistic.

15

According to the _______ theory, a recently retired person who finds satisfaction in hobbies, travel, or volunteering is adjusting to

life after retirement.

activity

______________ theory states that the end result is that the body's immune response is impaired, which causes the aging person to

be more susceptible to a variety of illnesses or infections as well as being susceptible to the body's immune cells attacking normal

body cells.

Immune