Deck 31: Functional Assessment of the Older Adult

Question 1

The nurse will choose which of the following tools to assess a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)?

A)Direct Assessment of Functional Abilities (DAFA)
B)Lawton and Brody IADLs
C)Katz Index
D)Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire-IADL (OARS-IADL)

Answer 1

Katz Index

Question 2

Which of the following statements regarding common environmental hazards is most appropriate for the nurse to make during a functional assessment of an older person's home environment?

A)"These low toilet seats are safe because they are nearer to the ground in case of falls."
B)"Ask a relative or friend to help you to install grab bars in your shower."
C)"These small rugs are ideal for preventing you from slipping on the hard floor."
D)"It would be safer to keep the lighting low in this room to avoid glare in your eyes."

Answer 2

"Ask a relative or friend to help you to install grab bars in your shower."

Question 3

The nurse is assessing an older adult's advanced ADLs (AADLs),which would include:

A)recreational activities.
B)meal preparation.
C)balancing the chequebook.
D)self-grooming activities.

Answer 3

recreational activities.

Question 4

An 85-year-old man has been hospitalized after a fall at home,and his 86-year-old wife is at his bedside.She tells the nurse that she is his primary caregiver.The nurse should assess the caregiver for signs of possible caregiver burnout,such as:

A)depression.
B)weight gain.
C)hypertension.
D)social phobias.

Question 5

Which of the following is true in relation to ADLs and IADLs instruments?

A)Most can be completed in 5 minutes.
B)They incorporate an objective standardized measure of performance.
C)Administration of the tests does not require training.
D)There is no risk of injury to the older adult when participating in performance testing.

Question 6

The nurse is preparing to assess an older adult and discovers that he is in severe pain.Which of the following statements about pain and the older adult is true?

A)Pain is inevitable with aging.
B)Older adults with cognitive impairment feel less pain.
C)Alleviating pain should take priority over other aspects of the assessment.
D)The assessment should take priority so that care decisions can be made.

Question 7

During a morning assessment,the nurse notices that an older patient is less attentive and is unable to recall yesterday's events.The nurse administers the Confusion Assessment Method,which will screen for:

A)dementia.
B)depression.
C)delirium.
D)psychosis.

Question 8

The nurse is assessing the abilities of an older adult.Which of the following activities are considered IADLs? (Select all that apply. )

A)Feeding oneself
B)Preparing a meal
C)Balancing a chequebook
D)Walking
E)Toileting
F)Grocery shopping

Question 9

The nurse is preparing to perform a functional assessment of an older patient and knows that a good approach would be to:

A)observe the patient's ability to perform tasks.
B)ask the patient's wife how well he performs tasks.
C)review the medical record for information about the patient's abilities.
D)ask the patient's physician for information about the patient's abilities.

Question 10

Which of the following questions would be most appropriate for the nurse to ask when beginning to assess a person's spirituality?

A)"Do you believe in God?"
B)"Do you consider yourself to be a spiritual person?"
C)"What religious faith do you follow?"
D)"Do you believe in the power of prayer?"

Question 11

During an assessment of a newly admitted 92-year-old woman,the nurse notes that her son does not want to leave the room.The woman has signs of old bruises and healed cuts that happened "last week," according to the son.Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate?

A)Ask the son for details about the nature of the patient's injuries.
B)Recognize that older people are often unsteady on their feet and that falls do occur.
C)Notify the authorities of a potential abusive situation.
D)Recognize that these findings do not necessarily indicate that abuse has occurred but are signs that further assessment is needed.

Question 12

The nurse is assessing the forms of support an older patient has before she is discharged.Which of the following illustrates an informal source of support?

A)The local senior centre
B)Her cleaning lady
C)Her Meals on Wheels meal delivery service
D)Her neighbour,who visits with her daily

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the Lawton IADLs instrument is true?

A)The nurse uses direct observation to implement this tool.
B)It is designed as a self-report measure of performance,rather than ability.
C)It is not useful in the acute hospital setting.
D)It is best used for those residing in an institutional setting.

Question 14

When using the various instruments to assess an older person's ADLs,the nurse needs to remember that a disadvantage of these instruments includes:

A)the reliability of the tools.
B)the self or proxy report of functional activities.
C)the lack of confidentiality during the assessment.
D)insufficient detail about the deficiencies identified.

Question 15

Which definition correctly describes a person's functional ability?

A)Functional ability is the measure of the expected changes of aging that a person is experiencing.
B)Functional ability refers to an individual's motivation to live independently.
C)Functional ability refers to the level of cognition present in an older person.
D)Functional ability refers to a person's ability to perform activities necessary to live in modern society.

Question 16

Which of the following tests is recommended as the most valid and reliable for assessing the physical performance of the older adult?

A)The Timed Up and Go Test
B)The Performance Activities of Daily Living
C)The Physical Performance Test
D)Tinetti Gait and Balance Evaluation