Deck 41: Assisting in Geriatrics

Question 1

Age-related changes in the cardiovascular system may be the result of

A) lack of exercise.
B) poor diet.
C) stress.
D) All of the above

Answer 1

All of the above

Question 2

The cells in the ________________ are produced more slowly with age, making the skin prone to tear and blister.

A) epidermis
B) dermis
C) subcutaneous layer
D) All of the above

Answer 2

epidermis

Question 3

Over time, vessel walls thicken and become less elastic because of the calcification and buildup of connective tissue in which condition?

A) Atherosclerosis
B) Phlebitis
C) Arteriosclerosis
D) All of the above

Answer 3

Arteriosclerosis

Question 4

Which of the following disorders involves the loss of bone density?

A) Osteoarthritis
B) Osteoporosis
C) Rheumatoid arthritis
D) Gout

Question 5

_____________ result(s) from weakening and stretching of the venous walls.

A) Hypertension
B) Diabetes
C) Varicose veins
D) Edema of the lower extremities

Question 6

Medications that may contribute to constipation include

A) calcium.
B) antihypertensives.
C) antidepressants.
D) A and C
E) All of the above

Question 7

Which of the following is caused by increasing pressure inside the eye?

A) Cataract
B) Glaucoma
C) Macular degeneration

Question 8

Which of the following conditions may have signs and symptoms similar to those seen in dementia?

A) Depression
B) Side effects of OTC medications
C) Malnutrition
D) All of the above

Question 9

An older person diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 may have difficulty complying with treatment protocols because

A) the person is easily distracted during education interventions.
B) sensorimotor changes may interfere.
C) multiple health problems may complicate treatment.
D) B and C
E) All of the above

Question 10

Which of the following disorders is associated with aging?

A) Constipation
B) Diarrhea
C) Hematuria
D) Asthma

Question 11

Dysphagia in older adults refers to

A) difficulty swallowing.
B) painful speech.
C) extreme thirst.

Question 12

A protein that forms the inelastic fibers of tendons, ligaments, and fascia is

A) elastin.
B) collagen.
C) a lipocyte.
D) cartilage.

Question 13

The pathology of Alzheimer's disease is associated with the

A) buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
B) buildup of drug waste materials in the CNS.
C) destruction of brain tissue through ischemia.
D) A and C

Question 14

The prevention and treatment of osteoporosis include

A) weight-bearing exercises.
B) calcium and vitamin C supplements.
C) Fosamax and calcitonin.
D) A and C
E) All of the above

Question 15

Which of the following is a clouding of the lens of the eye?

A) Cataract
B) Glaucoma
C) Macular degeneration
D) None of the above

Question 16

The most frequent health problems in the elderly include all of the following except

A) heart disease.
B) Graves' disease.
C) diabetes.
D) arthritis.
E) cancer.

Question 17

Which of the following is not a sign or symptom of diabetes in the elderly?

A) Slow wound healing
B) Cough
C) Weight loss
D) Polyuria

Question 18

Which of the following diseases is not associated with aging?

A) Hypertension
B) Diabetes type 2
C) Arteriosclerosis
D) Diabetes type 1

Question 19

_____________ is the leading cause of death among men and women.

A) Heart disease
B) Diabetes
C) Cancer
D) Stroke

Question 20

Aging persons are more susceptible to heat stroke because

A) lack of exercise reduces heat loss through sweat.
B) the number of sweat glands decreases over time.
C) the blood supply to the dermis increases with aging.
D) All of the above

Question 21

Which of the following is true of an advance directive?

A) It specifies the type of medical care a person wants to receive when she or he is unable to make medical decisions.
B) It authorizes the physician to make medical decisions for the patient.
C) It is put in place each time the patient is sick.
D) All states have similar rules for advance directives.

Question 22

Men can experience problems with sexual function as they age because of

A) antihypertensive medications.
B) diabetes mellitus.
C) vascular disease.
D) All of the above

Question 23

Mini mental state examination assesses the patient's ability to

A) recall facts.
B) write and calculate numbers.
C) read and write.
D) Both A and B
E) All of the above

Question 24

What is one of the most common complaints related to skin among older people?

A) Dry skin
B) Thin transparent skin
C) Bruising
D) Age spots

Question 25

Medications used to treat AD include

A) Cholinesterase and Indocin.
B) Aricept and Exelon.
C) Albuterol and Ambien.

Question 26

Which of the following is associated with glaucoma?

A) Cloudy or opaque areas in the lens that cause blurring of vision
B) Blockage of the outflow of aqueous humor causing an increase in intraocular pressure
C) Progressive loss of the central field of vision
D) Leading cause of blindness in aging people

Question 27

Changes caused by the ultraviolet light from the sun or by the normal aging process can affect which of the following layers of skin?

A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous tissue
D) All of the above

Question 28

What is ranked as the leading cause of death among men and women?

A) Cancer
B) Heart disease
C) Diabetes
D) Obesity

Question 29

Which of the following has been found to help maintain the cognitive abilities of aging individuals?

A) Moderate physical exercise
B) Moderate mental activity
C) Maintaining healthy weight
D) Both A and B

Question 30

Older adults are at increased risk for toxic levels of medication in the bloodstream because of

A) kidneys requiring more water to excrete the same amount of waste.
B) malnutrition and diet influences.
C) increased prescription medications taken.
D) social and mental influences.

Question 31

Which of the following is the age-related loss of close vision?

A) Presbycusis
B) Cataracts
C) Presbyopia
D) Glaucoma

Question 32

Which of the following is/are true of age-related vision changes?

A) Patients require up to four times as much as light.
B) Glare is a serious problem.
C) Individuals have difficulty adjusting to abrupt changes in light.
D) Both B and C are true.

Question 33

Which of the following changes in the aging patient are directly related to the individual's activity level?

A) Height
B) Weight
C) Muscular
D) Skeletal

Question 34

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in aging people because

A) difficulty controlling the flow of urine is a normal part of aging.
B) frequent infections increase urgency.
C) no treatment is available for incontinence in older patients.

Question 35

Which statement is true about patients in the second stage of AD?

A) They are still able to pay bills and work around the house.
B) They are unable to care for themselves.
C) They begin to show signs of problems with mobility.
D) Both B and C are true.

Question 36

Which of the following is not considered a risk factor for osteoporosis?

A) Male gender
B) Family history of osteoporosis
C) Racial background
D) Extended use of anticonvulsant drugs

Question 37

Sleep problems are often confused with which of the following conditions?

A) Diabetes
B) Dementia
C) Depression
D) Cardiovascular disease
E) All of the above

Question 38

Aging brings an increase in __________, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood into the systemic circulation.

Question 39

Which of the following diagnostic tests provides a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease?

A) Examination of the brain at autopsy
B) Computed tomography
C) Magnetic resonance imaging
D) Positron emission tomography

Question 40

Which of the following gastrointestinal diseases is related to the lack of dietary fiber and constipation often seen in aging individuals?

A) Peptic ulcers
B) Diverticulosis
C) Colorectal cancer
D) Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Question 41

The medical assistant may perform a(n) __________ to assess a patient's ability to write, calculate, and recall facts.

Question 42

Explain the Mini-Mental Status Exam and how it is used to diagnose dementia.

Question 43

__________ is the severe loss of intellectual ability.

Question 44

Memantine (Namenda) is frequently used to treat __________.

Question 45

Therapeutic communication for older adults is crucial to the quality of care. Summarize five techniques recommended for effective communication with aging individuals.

Question 46

Aging changes in the lungs include a decrease in the ability of lung tissue to move freely with inspiration and expiration because of changes in __________ fibers.

Question 47

How can the medical assistant assess the patient's nutritional status during the patient interview?

Question 48

Patients who have limited mobility and are restricted to bed are at risk of developing a(n) __________ as a result of ischemia over bony prominences.

Question 49

The vaccine __________ is available for aging people to prevent activation of the varicella-zoster virus, which causes shingles.

Question 50

Aging patients may develop __________ because of a lack of dietary fiber and chronic constipation.

Question 51

Patients suffering from __________ experience periodic jerking of the legs during sleep.

Question 52

The medical term for an age spot is __________.

Question 53

Grace Glasgow, an 86-year-old patient, has a combination of presbyopia and macular degeneration. How can the medical assistant help Miss Glasgow around the office?

Question 54

Patients with diabetes are at higher risk for many disorders. List four common complications of diabetes.

Question 55

Give three suggestions the medical assistant may make to a patient to help prevent and treat dry skin.

Question 56

A medication that can be prescribed to treat osteoporosis is __________.

Question 57

List five suggestions the medical assistant can make to help prevent falls at home.

Question 58

List four risk factors that contribute to the development of osteoporosis.

Question 59

__________ is a protein that makes up the inelastic fibers of tendons and ligaments.

Question 60

The family of an aging patient in the practice contacts you about the need for home-based help for their mother. Summarize the services available in the area to help aging individuals remain in their homes.

Question 61

Skin wrinkles are caused by a lack of the collagen cells that form the supportive structures of the dermis.

Question 62

Physical activity and continued mental stimulation have no effect on the development of memory problems in aging persons.

Question 63

Aging people are at no greater risk of developing blood clots in the legs than younger adults.

Question 64

Lack of intrinsic factor in the gastric mucosa makes it difficult for aging people to digest iron.

Question 65

Orthostatic hypotension may be caused by the heart's inability to adapt to an increased workload.

Question 66

As a medical assistant working in a primary care practice, you should be aware of the possible signs of elder abuse. Summarize four of them.

Question 67

Disease is a normal and unavoidable part of the aging process.

Question 68

Peristalsis in the colon increases in the elderly; therefore, constipation is common.

Question 69

Aging causes an increase in the production of insulin by the beta cells of the pancreas.

Question 70

A decrease in cardiac output associated with aging may result in an increased incidence of CHF.

Question 71

AD is a slowly progressive disease that begins with mild memory problems and ends with severe brain damage.

Question 72

Musculoskeletal disease is an inevitable part of the aging process.

Question 73

Radiological tests including CT, MRT, and PETS tests may help show the structural and functional changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's Disease.

Question 74

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death (across the ages) in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death for those ages 65 and older.

Question 75

Older patients show the same classic symptoms of diabetes as their younger counterparts.

Question 76

Presbycusis is defined as ringing in the ears.

Question 77

Synthesis of vitamin D is not affected by aging changes in the integumentary system.

Question 78

The skin of older patients appears thinner and tears easily because of changes in the dermal layer.

Question 79

Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 commonly have had prediabetes for an extended period.

Question 80

Wound healing may be a problem for an older patient because of decreased blood flood to dermal tissues.