Older Adult

What percentage of the U.S. population will be older adults by 2040?

Over 20%.

What defines an 'older adult'?

Age 65 or older.

What are the components of a comprehensive geriatric assessment?

Physical exam, mental status, functional status, social/economic status, pain, and safety of environment.

What is the purpose of a functional assessment in older adults?

It's the basis for care planning and includes ADLs, IADLs, and physical mobility.

What does the Katz Index assess?

Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

What does the Lawton Instrument measure?

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) for independent living.

What is the Timed Up & Go (TUG) Test used for?

Quantifying physical performance and mobility.

Is altered cognition a normal part of aging?

No, it is not.

What two tools are commonly used to assess cognition?

Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

How does depression relate to aging?

It’s not common, but risk increases with comorbidities.

What does the social domain focus on?

Relationships within family, social groups, and community support.

Why is caregiver assessment important?

It predicts institutionalization better than patient’s illness severity.

What does an environmental assessment look for?

Safety hazards, risk of falls, driving ability, and sleep quality.

What percentage of falls in older adults result in serious injury?

20%.

What is the gold standard for assessing pain in older adults?

Patient self-report.

What are the 3 main contributors to skin color?

Melanin, carotene, and red-purple vascular tones.

What are key functions of the skin?

Protection, perception, temperature regulation, wound repair, vitamin D production, etc.

What are examples of subjective skin health history questions?

Past skin issues, mole/pigment changes, dryness, rashes, medications, etc.

What are signs of skin color changes to assess?

Pallor, erythema, cyanosis, jaundice.

What’s the ABCDEF rule for skin lesion assessment?

Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter >6mm, Elevation/Evolution, Funny looking.

What skin changes are common in infants?

Mongolian spots, acrocyanosis, erythema toxicum, jaundice.

What skin changes occur in pregnancy?

Striae, linea nigra, chloasma, vascular spiders.

What skin changes occur in older adults?

Solar lentigines, xerosis, thin parchment skin, decreased turgor.

What are lesion shapes like annular, grouped, and linear?

Annular: circular, grouped: cluster, linear: line/scratch.

What defines a macule vs. patch?

Macule: flat,

What is a papule vs. plaque?

Papule: elevated

What defines a vesicle vs. bulla?

Vesicle: fluid-filled

What is a pustule?

Elevated lesion filled with pus.

What are examples of secondary skin lesions?

Crust, scale, fissure, ulcer, excoriation, keloid.

What are the 4 pressure injury stages?

Stage I: Non-blanchable; Stage II: Partial thickness; Stage III: Full skin loss; Stage IV: Full tissue loss.

Name 3 vascular lesions.

Port-wine stain, petechiae, ecchymosis.

What are common skin infections in children?

Diaper rash, impetigo, chickenpox, measles.

What are the 3 major skin cancers?

Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma.