Deck 24: Promoting Health in Older Adults

Question 1

A hospitalised older adult client is recovering from an acute illness. As the client nears the end of his hospitalisation, he questions the nurse about medications and care after discharge. The nurse should:

A) invite the client's family to come to the hospital so the nurse can explain the client's care to them.
B) assess the client's independence and ability to function in his own home before discharge.
C) tell the client not to worry about going home.
D) tell the doctor the client needs to go to a nursing home.

Answer 1

assess the client's independence and ability to function in his own home before discharge.

Question 2

A group of older adult clients is interested in living options available in the community when they may need some assistance with their daily needs. Which of the following would the nurse suggest as possibilities to meet these needs?

A) Home care package.
B) Hospices.
C) Long-term care facilities.
D) Adult day-care centres.

Answer 2

Home care package.
Adult day-care centres.

Question 3

Match the characteristics with the fact.
1. Demographics of older than 65 years
2. Socioeconomic of older than 85 years
3. Cultural diversity
4. Health problems
A. Women outnumber men
B. Increasing amounts of language
C. Common but not normal
D. Indigenous have lesser life expectancy

Answer 3

1D, 2A, 3B, 4C

Question 4

An older person is hospitalised and having difficulty coping with the end-of-life decisions to be made. She is feeling very isolated from her regular church group. The nurse recognises the importance of her spiritual beliefs by:

A) suggesting she start planning for her funeral.
B) asking the family to help her make a decision.
C) diverting her attention to the television.
D) organising the church group to visit her.

Answer 4

organising the church group to visit her.

Question 5

The nurse is reviewing the chart of an older adult client before the client comes into the clinic. In this review, the nurse reads that the client has sarcopenia. What will the nurse expect to find the client complaining of?

A) Hair loss and thin skin.
B) Lack of strength and tiring easily.
C) Bleeding and bruising tendencies.
D) Weight loss and nausea.

Question 6

A client comes to the clinic and complains of not being able to hold her urine, stating: "I feel so terrible. This shouldn't happen at my age". The nurse's best response is:

A) "There could be a number of causes for this. I need to ask you some more questions about it."
B) "You shouldn't feel badly. Lots of people have this trouble."
C) "Getting old isn't much fun, is it?"
D) "You'll probably have to start wearing incontinent briefs. Then you won't be worried about accidents."

Question 7

A nurse is working with a group of clients in a community centre, all over the age of 85. This group is referred to as which of the following?

A) Young-old.
B) Old-old.
C) Elite-old.
D) Middle-old.

Question 8

An older male adult client comes to the clinic and states to the nurse that he hasn't been interested in sexual intercourse lately. He states: "I guess this is part of getting old, too". What should the nurse understand about decreased sexual interest in older adult clients?

A) It is caused by decreased hormone activity and there is little that can be done about it.
B) It should not be taken as seriously as if the client were a younger person.
C) It does decrease and gradually disappears.
D) It decreases but does not disappear.

Question 9

The nurse is working with a group of older adults at a community health centre. In planning any health program, the nurse will implement Erikson's (1963) theory of task development. The nurse realises that in this stage, the successful completion of the task allows the person to:

A) live out their last years in physical health.
B) wish they had their life to live over again.
C) make connections with the younger generation.
D) have a feeling of satisfaction from past accomplishments.

Question 10

A nurse is visiting an older woman who is living with her daughter. One day the client tells her that her daughter locks her in her room sometimes, and threatens to send her away to a nursing home. The nurse should:

A) report the matter to the police as a crime.
B) discuss with the daughter available resources for support.
C) take the client and have her admitted to hospital.
D) threaten the daughter with legal action.

Question 11

A nurse is teaching a wellness class for older adults. In order to address the sensory loss that accompanies the ageing process, the nurse should recommend that these clients:

A) wear shaded glasses indoors to reduce glare.
B) switch to brighter lighting in their home.
C) exercise more and eat higher amounts of calcium.
D) use hearing aids and glasses.

Question 12

Nurses caring for older people need to be aware of their own values and attitudes because:

A) they can choose where they work.
B) myths and stereotypes may influence them.
C) all old people are the same.
D) old people need more nursing care.

Question 13

An older adult client comes to the clinic after checking his blood pressure several times in the local chemist. The nurse checks the blood pressure and finds that it is 146/80. The nurse's best response to this client is:

A) "We'll wait and see what the doctor says, but I doubt he will be concerned."
B) "You should be on high blood pressure medicine."
C) "I'll recheck this in a while, but your systolic pressure is too high."
D) "Having blood pressure a little high is normal at your age. Yours is fine."

Question 14

An older adult client comes in complaining of gastrointestinal problems, including frequent constipation and a dry mouth. The client has not had any recent weight loss. What should the nurse realise about these symptoms?

A) They could be related to normal age-related changes.
B) They indicate the need for an upper and lower GI X-ray series.
C) They indicate a concern and could be caused by cancer.
D) They are probably indicative of a gastric ulcer or colitis.

Question 15

An older adult client who has had a stroke is ready for hospital discharge. How should the nurse case manager support this client's independence?

A) Set up a meeting with the family members so decisions can be made.
B) Make arrangements based on what the nurse feels is in the best interest of the client.
C) Allow the client to be actively involved in all decisions made.
D) Work closely with the social worker and doctor to make the decisions necessary for the client.

Question 16

A group of nursing students is doing their first clinical rotation in a long-term care facility. The nurse educator, in meeting the needs of this particular client group, reminds students to:

A) treat this group of clients with a different level of respect than younger clients.
B) do all cares for the clients, since they're unable to do them independently.
C) always remember that the client's self-respect must be maintained in all interactions of the students.
D) make sure the clients' cares are done in a timely manner, and sometimes that means doing things for the client.

Question 17

A client has been diagnosed with dementia. The family wants to know how to plan for the future. The best response by the nurse is:

A) "Your family member's symptoms will get worse, but there are medications to stop the progress."
B) "Dementia is a progressive deterioration. It's important for you to clearly understand what to look for in symptoms."
C) "You should plan right now on which long-term care facility you will want to utilise when the time comes."
D) "Dementia can be treated once the cause is known."

Question 18

A nurse is presenting a health education program to a group of older adults at a senior citizens centre. Considering the physiological changes of this age group, how should the temperature of the room be set?

A) It should be set at a temperature that is comfortable for the nurse.
B) Temperature of the room is not one of the nurse's concerns.
C) It should be set warmer than the nurse's preference.
D) It should be set cooler than what is comfortable for the nurse.

Question 19

A school nurse is bringing a group of students to a nursing home for a social exchange project. Before the students arrive, the nurse reminds them to do which of the following when speaking to the residents?

A) Speak as loud as they can.
B) Write out what they want to say on a piece of paper.
C) Speak into the residents' ears.
D) Speak distinctly, while facing the residents.

Question 20

A nurse is working with clients in an assisted living facility. In the past month, there have been several deaths of some partners of the residents, and some single members of the facility. In helping the remaining residents deal with these deaths, the nurse understands that adjustment may be easier according to continuity theory for:

A) a resident who had a wide circle of friends, besides her spouse.
B) a resident who was not inclined to participate in any activities offered at the facility.
C) a resident who started to become more dependent on the nursing staff at the facility.
D) a resident who spent most of her days attending to her partner who is now deceased.

Question 21

A nurse who works in a long-term care facility has noticed that one of the residents has been forgetting names of staff members and has not been doing some of the cares that this resident was able to do just in the week prior. The nurse should:

A) instruct the staff members to be extra attentive as this person needs more assistance.
B) remember that memory loss is a normal, age-related change.
C) inform the resident's family that the resident probably has some form of dementia.
D) investigate for possible physiological problems.

Question 23

The community health nurse is providing information to clients over 75 years of age in the community regarding health tests and screening. Which of the following would be recommended for these clients? (Select those that apply.)

A) Annual hearing screen.
B) Annual total cholesterol and HDL protein measurement.
C) Annual vision screen.
D) Annual flu vaccine.
E) Annual pneumococcal vaccine.

Question 24

A nurse is preparing an education program on safety concerns for older adults living in their own homes. To address the sensory changes in this age group, the nurse will recommend that this group have which of the following?

A) Someone to do their cooking for them.
B) Smoke detectors that are checked on a scheduled basis.
C) A list of emergency numbers near the phone.
D) Telephones that use a blinking light instead of a ringer.

Question 25

An older adult client comes to the clinic for follow-up after a long hospitalisation. When the client asks about increasing strength and endurance, the nurse should respond with which of the following?

A) "Maybe you should think about going to a nursing home. At least the people there will be able to help with your needs."
B) "Your muscles can be strengthened which might help you function better."
C) "Once muscle mass is decreased, there's nothing that can be done for strength improvement."
D) "It won't matter if you exercise. At your age, there's little room for improvement."

Question 26

A group of older adult women come to the community centre for exercise classes taught by the community health nurse. This activity will help with which of the following?

A) Slow bone density loss and decrease muscle atrophy.
B) Prevent pathologic fractures.
C) Reverse the effects of ageing and cure pain.
D) Eliminate the risk for osteoporosis.

Question 27

A client has had Alzheimer's dementia for a period of time and continues to live at home with his spouse. Which of the following is the nurse's responsibility?

A) Assess the client early to ensure proper care.
B) Find a suitable long-term care facility for the client.
C) Make sure the client is getting appropriate medication.
D) Provide support for the spouse.