Ch. 10 The Older Adult Patient/ Med-surg 8th edition

Which definition is correct in describing old age or aged?

• Person’s state of mind

• Person older than 65 years of age

• Process of growing older

• Person of advanced age

Which information indicates how aging is recognized by gerontologists as a developmental process?

• Measured in chronologic years

• Directly related to heredity

• Related to behavioral characteristics

• Begins at the time of birth

Which understanding is a prerequisite for a nurse working with the geriatric patient?

• Specialized knowledge is needed.

• Geriatric patients are physically impaired.

• Most geriatric patients will develop dementia.

• Geriatric patients need to be closely supervised.

A 78-year-old resident of a long-term care facility insists on wearing high heels and miniskirts to the dining room for meals and will not leave her room without first applying glamorous makeup. Which assessment should the gerontological nurse determine as the reason for this behavior?

Which information indicates how Butler, a well-known gerontologist, relays facts regarding ageism?

• It dehumanizes older individuals.

• It is based on the biologic theory of aging.

• It is based on natural and purposeful occurrences.

• It continues to change as the population ages.

Which effects of aging involve the nervous system?

• Accelerated loss of neurons in the brain

• Gradually declining loss of intellectual capability

• Decreased conduction speed of neurons

• Loss of long-term memory

A nurse is caring for older adult patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Which diagnosis are these patients more likely to develop?

• Dementia, non-Alzheimer type

• Alzheimer dementia

• Parkinson disease

• Psychotic disorders

Which nursing action is the most appropriate to implement when planning activities to improve short-term memory for an older adult patient experiencing memory deficits?

• Maintain the same daily schedule.

• Rehearse memory training.

• Provide a varied and stimulating daily schedule.

• Conduct deep-breathing exercises.

Which example best indicates normal memory change or lapse of memory?

• Relying on another person to remember names or important events

• Occasional forgetfulness or inability to recall names or facts

• Difficulty in recalling recent events

• Difficulty in recalling past events

Which facts are generally accepted for most older adults?

• Intellectual capabilities are impaired.

• Functional brain activities decrease.

• Functional intellectual capability is maintained.

• Creativity and judgment are severely impaired.