Test - Assessment Presentations of the Older Adult

What do you remember from the Gerontology chapter?

http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/journalarticle.asp?article_id=529262

Some of these findings are different than what you would see in adult populations and could be overlooked or misinterpreted.
Answers in the comments.

1.
Each time human cells replicate, their
a. chromosomes lengthen.
b. telomeres shorten.
c. walls thicken.
d. nuclei weaken.

2.
Damage to cellular proteins caused by exposure to free radicals is called
a. senescent aging syndrome.
b. oxidative stress.
c. replicative undermining.
d. pathogenic decline.

3.
A primary cause of change in mental status, particularly confusion, in older adults is
a. stress.
b. the aging process.
c. drug toxicity.
d. visual changes.

4.
When evaluating older adults for delirium, which of the following questions is essential?
a. Can the person remember events from many years ago?
b. Does the person recognize family members?
c. Is the person uncooperative or combative?
d. Did the person's signs of confusion have an abrupt onset?

5.
Incontinence can sometimes be a contributing factor to which of the following?
a. dehydration
b. falls
c. dizziness
d. delirium

6.
Using the timed up-and-go test to evaluate problems with balance and gait, you would refer an older adult for further evaluation if the person
a. walks more than 10 feet before completing the task.
b. takes more than 30 seconds to accomplish the task.
c. sits down in a different chair.
d. completes the task in 10 seconds.

7.
The decreased muscle mass of older adults predisposes them to
a. incontinence.
b. delirium.
c. dehydration.
d. depression.

8.
In older adults, a sign of worsening heart failure is
a. decreased appetite
b. elevated temperature
c. orthostatic hypotension
d. chest discomfort

9.
In a patient with dementia, resisting a caregiver's attempts at repositioning may be a sign of
a. defiance.
b. thirst.
c. pain.
d. neuropathy.

10.
In an older adult, the most effective way to monitor function is to
a. use the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living for evaluation.
b. observe changes from a previously established activity baseline.
c. use the Barthel Index to determine the person's self-care capacity.
d. observe the person carefully for signs of fatigue and overexertion.

11.
A common indicator of aging is
a. decreased resistance to infection
b. urinary incontinence.
c. altered mental status.
d. dizziness.

12.
The lack of mobility caused by osteoarthritis predisposes older adults to
a. low-grade fevers.
b. dehydration.
c. anorexia.
d. constipation.

13.
Right lower-quadrant pain with anorexia and an elevated white blood cell count is likely to reflect which of the following, often overlooked in older adults?
a. diverticulitis
b. lower GI bleeding
c. appendicitis
d. bowel obstruction

14.
In older adults, the most common sign of acute myocardial infarction is
a. crushing chest pain.
b. excessive diaphoresis.
c. chronic indigestion.
d. sudden onset of dyspnea.

15.
Unlike younger adults, older adults with type 2 diabetes may present with
a. dehydration and confusion.
b. weight gain.
c. edema.
d. thirst.

16.
In older adults, a more common sign of hyperthyroidism is
a. fine tremors of the extremities.
b. a mass in the anterior neck.
c. new onset atrial fibrillation.
d. a markedly increased appetite.