Deck 41: Assisting in Geriatrics

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Cataract

Question 2

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 2

Arteriosclerosis

Question 3

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

Answer 3

the number of sweat glands decreases over time.

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

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

Question 6

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 7

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

Question 8

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 9

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 10

Dysphagia in older adults refers to

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

Question 11

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

A) Cataract
B) Glaucoma
C) Macular degeneration

Question 12

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 13

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

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

Question 14

Which of the following diseases is not associated with aging?

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

Question 15

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 16

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 17

Which of the following disorders is associated with aging?

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

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

Medications that may contribute to constipation include

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

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

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 22

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 23

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 24

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 25

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 26

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 27

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 28

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 29

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 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 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 32

Medications used to treat AD include

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

Question 33

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

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

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 36

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 37

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 38

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

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

Question 39

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

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

Question 40

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 41

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

Question 42

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 43

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 44

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

Question 45

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

Question 46

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

Question 47

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

Question 48

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

Question 49

Memantine (Namenda) is frequently used to treat __________.

Question 50

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

Question 51

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

Question 52

The medical term for an age spot is __________.

Question 53

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

Question 54

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

Question 55

__________ is the severe loss of intellectual ability.

Question 56

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

Question 57

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

Question 58

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 59

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

Question 60

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 61

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

Question 62

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

Question 63

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

Question 64

Presbycusis is defined as ringing in the ears.

Question 65

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

Question 66

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

Question 67

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 68

Musculoskeletal disease is an inevitable part of the aging process.

Question 69

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

Question 70

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

Question 71

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

Question 72

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

Question 73

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

Question 74

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

Question 75

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

Question 76

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 77

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

Question 78

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

Question 79

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 80

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