314 EXAM 3: CARE OF THE OLDER
ADULT QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Myths and stereotypes of older adults - answer-ill, disabled, unattractive, forgetful,
confused, rigid, boring, unfriendly, unable to learn and understand new information, not
interested in sex
Ageism - answer-myths and stereotypes surrounding elder adults, discrimination
against people because of increasing age
Nurses' attitudes toward older adults - answer-comes from personal experience,
education, employment experiences, attitudes of co-workers and employing institutions
Respect, dignity, involvement in care decision and activities - answer-nurses need to
gain knowledge about aging and health care needs of older adults in terms of these
characteristics
Gerontology - answer-study of agin process
Gerontological nursing - answer-caring for the aging adult (65-74 = young old, 75-84 =
middle old, 85-99 = old old, 100 years or older = elite old
85-99 = old old - answer-the current fastest growing subgroup of old age
Maturity (65-death) ego integrity vs. Despair - answer-erikson's developmental task for
older adults
Looking back on life and feeling a sense of fulfillment, success = wisdom, failure =
regret and despair - answer-maturity ego integrity vs. Despair (65-death)
Developmental tasks for older adults - answer-decreasing health and physical strength,
retirement and fixed income, death of a spouse/child/sibling/friend, adjustment to self as
an aging person, maintaining satisfactory living arrangements, redefining relationships,
maintaining quality of life
Community-based and institutional health care services - answer-private homes,
apartments, retirement communities, assisted-living facilities, nursing centers, homeless
shelters/the streets
Assessment of the older adult - answer-readiness to learn, in pain, wearing
glasses/hearing aids, speak slowly and in normal tone of voice, sit facing patient in good
lighting, enunciate, present one idea at a time, give time for response, decrease
environmental distractions, use audio/visual/tactile cues
, Decrease in muscle strength/ number of alveoli/cough reflex, increased ap diameter,
wall rigidity, risk of infection - answer-physiological changes (respiratory)
Increased systolic bp, thicker vessels/narrowing lumens, decreased contractile strength
and calcification of valves, decreased co and peripheral circulation - answer-
cardiovascular physiological changes
Periodontal disease, hemorrhoids, fissures, decreased saliva and gi peristalsis -
answer-gi physiological changes
Decreased rate of impulses and neurotransmitters, slowed cranial nerve responses,
decreased proprioception - answer-neurological physiological changes
Decreased elasticity and subcutaneous fat, pigmentation changes, sebaceous gland
decline, decreased oils/dryness, decreased facial hair in men, increased facial hair in
women - answer-integumentary physiological changes
Decreased accommodation, slowed response to light/dark changes, yellowing lens,
altered color perception, smaller pupils, increased sensitivity to glare - answer-
sensory/eyes physiological changes
Decreased acuity for high frequencies, thickened tympanic membrane, sclerosis of
inner ear, increased wax - answer-sensory/ear physiological changes
Diminished taste, smell, touch - answer-sensory taste/smell/touch physiological
changes
Decreased number of nephrons/ bladder capacity/sphincter tone, increased size of
prostate - answer-kidney physiological changes
Decreased muscle mass and calcium stores in bones, degenerative joint disease -
answer-m/s physiological changes
Decreased sperm count/rapidity of erections/estrogen levels, atrophy of
vagina/uterus/breasts, desires do not decline but physical ability does - answer-
reproductive physiological changes
Decreased thyroid secretions/pancreatic secretions/stress response - answer-endocrine
physiological changes
Decreased t-cell, decreased immunity - answer-immune physiological changes
Delirium, dehydration, malnutrition, health care associated infections, urinary
incontinence, skin breakdown, falls - answer-main risks/challenges/problems presented
in older adults