Question 1

The field of public health and aging is also known as:

Accepted Answer

Gerontological health specifically focuses on the health and well-being of the aging population, which is the topic of the given field. While the other choices are related to social sciences and public health, they do not specifically address the study of aging and health.

Question 2

Preventive gerontology refers to health screening programs for persons 50 and older.

Accepted Answer

Preventive gerontology refers to the study and application of preventive strategies for aging, focusing on maintaining health and quality of life rather than just health screening programs for a specific age group.

Question 3

Compression of morbidity refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Compression of morbidity refers to the concept that people stay healthy and free from disease and disability for as long as possible until the end of their lives. This means that morbidity (illness, disease, disability) is compressed into a shorter period of time before death, so that people are able to enjoy a higher quality of life for a longer period of time. This is seen as a positive outcome of improvements in healthcare and medical technology, and reflects an overall increase in human longevity and well-being.

Question 4

The most prevalent form of dementia among persons over age 70 is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent form of dementia among persons over age 70, accounting for approximately 70% of cases. Vascular dementia is the second most common form, accounting for approximately 20% of cases. Dementia praecox is an outdated term for what is now known as schizophrenia, which is not a form of dementia. Senility is also an outdated term that is not a specific diagnosis for any form of cognitive impairment.

Question 5

The "demographic cross-over effect" refers to which of the following phenomena?

Accepted Answer

The demographic cross-over effect refers to the phenomenon where minority persons who have experienced social disadvantage still have a higher survivability and life expectancy at advanced ages, compared to the majority population. This is contrary to the expected trend where the minority population usually has a lower life expectancy due to social and economic disadvantages. Option A is incorrect as it describes the opposite of the demographic crossover effect. Option B refers to undercounting of certain populations in census data, and option D refers to the decline in death rates followed by birth rate decline, which is a different demographic trend.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE regarding decision-making among the elderly?

Accepted Answer

Involuntary hospitalization for mental illness is not an accepted basis for determining incapacity for decision-making as it is possible for someone to have sufficient decision-making capacity even if they have been involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness. Other factors need to be considered in addition to this.

Question 7

In Florida's west coast counties, the percentage of persons over 65 years is:

Accepted Answer

Florida's west coast counties have a significant percentage of residents over 65 years old, often due to the state's popularity as a retirement destination, making 34% a plausible figure.

Question 8

The first legislation that had significance for aging and public health was:

Accepted Answer

The Social Security Act of 1935 is the first legislation that had significance for aging and public health. It established the federal-state Old Age Insurance program, which provided retirement benefits to workers aged 65 and older who had contributed to the program through payroll taxes. This legislation reflected a recognition of the need to address the economic challenges of an aging population, and it provided a foundation for future policy efforts to support older adults.

Question 9

The oldest advocacy organization for the elderly in the U.S. is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was founded in 1958 and is the largest advocacy organization for the elderly in the United States. The Grey Panthers and Silver Haired Legislature are also advocacy groups for the elderly, but they were founded later than AARP. The Gerontological Society of America is a professional organization for individuals studying aging and gerontology, not focused on advocacy work.

Quiz 12: Public Health and Aging