Question 1

The caregiver who provides daily meals and attends to the daily needs of the older adult is classified as the _____ caregiver.

Accepted Answer

The caregiver responsible for the day-to-day needs of the older adult is classified as the primary caregiver.

Question 2

Which of the following tasks could not be performed by an unlicensed home health aide?

Accepted Answer

Unlicensed persons are not allowed to dispense drugs in any setting.

Question 3

How often should a 75-year-old have a visual screening?

Accepted Answer

Annual examinations for vision to check for glaucoma are recommended.

Question 4

A 70-year-old male patient has been newly diagnosed with hypertension. What would be the most effective health practice to reduce sodium intake?

Accepted Answer

Reading labels will prevent the purchase of sodium-laden foods. Sodium-restricted foods are available on most menus. Simply avoiding salty foods does not guarantee less sodium because there are many foods containing sodium that are not salty. Adding salt should be absolutely restricted,not diminished.

Question 5

The home health nurse is discussing oral hygiene with the older adult. Which of the following practices would be appropriate to add to the current maintenance plan?

Accepted Answer

The use of fluoride toothpaste,daily brushing and flossing,and annual dental care will enhance dental health. An electric toothbrush is not necessary.

Question 6

An older adult states that her physician ordered her to drink a glass of wine daily. The nurse understands that alcohol is occasionally recommended for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is occasionally prescribed as an appetite stimulant in certain situations.

Question 7

When doing exercises such as walking or swimming, how many minutes must the older adult perform the activity in order for it to be considered beneficial?

Accepted Answer

As little as 30 minutes preserves muscle mass and keeps joints flexible.

Question 8

When the 70-year-old female patient says, "Keeping up with when to take the flu vaccine is a big hassle. I'm not going to add trying to keep up with a pneumonia vaccine as well. It's too expensive." Which response by the nurse would be the most helpful?

Accepted Answer

The pneumonia vaccine is given to individuals usually between the ages of 65 and 70 years and is repeated every 10 years. The flu vaccine must be received every year in the fall,because the strain of the virus changes frequently.

Question 9

The home health nurse suggests to the 82-year-old man that he should wear a Medic Alert bracelet. Which of the following health conditions prompted the nurse to make this suggestion?

Accepted Answer

Such health information as pacemakers,heparin therapy,and drug allergies should be made available to emergency workers.

Question 10

What would be the most effective action by the home health coordinator when interacting with an unpaid caregiver?

Accepted Answer

The recognition of a job well done and morale boosting are essential to the unpaid,frequently overworked,and frustrated caregiver.

Question 11

The 84-year-old male complains of dry mouth. What would be appropriate for the nurse to suggest?

Accepted Answer

The reduction of alcohol will help eliminate dry mouth. Excessive use of hard candies,caffeinated drinks like colas,and astringent mouthwashes will increase the discomfort from dry mouth.

Question 12

A 70-year-old male patient taking corticosteroids for rheumatoid arthritis asks the nurse if he should take the vaccination to prevent shingles. What would be the nurse's most helpful response?

Accepted Answer

The shingles vaccine should not be given to anyone with an impaired immune system. Corticosteroids impair the immune system. The vaccine is very expensive and is only effective in about 50% of the cases.

Question 13

The nurse is teaching a newly diagnosed diabetic regarding the diabetic diet. Which of the following factors will have the biggest impact on compliance?

Accepted Answer

Motivation is necessary for mastery of material and compliance with the new health information.

Question 14

An 80-year-old woman injured her foot on a piece of rusty wire. She tells the nurse she had a tetanus booster when she was 75. The nurse's response will be based on the knowledge that tetanus boosters

Accepted Answer

Tetanus boosters should be repeated every 10 years,unless an injury prompts the need for a booster. The age of the resident is not relevant. Any age group can contract tetanus.

Question 15

What would be the most important suggestion for the nurse to give her 75-year-old patient in an attempt to prevent a potential drug interaction?

Accepted Answer

Keeping a current drug list as a quick reference for any licensed professional to review before prescribing medication is one method to prevent possible drug-drug interactions.

Question 16

What does the presence of a caregiver provide for the older adult living at home?

Accepted Answer

A caregiver can be a potent motivational source for adhering to health maintenance practices. The presence of a caregiver does not guarantee safety and housecleaning. Although many caregivers are family members and do not charge for providing care,other caregivers do require a fee.

Question 17

The 60-year-old Asian man tells the home health nurse that he has stopped taking his antihypertensive medication because it causes him to be impotent. He reports that he is using acupuncture to control his hypertension. What would be the most effective response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Problems can occur when cultural remedies are used in place of conventional medicine. Assessment of the effectiveness of the alternate therapy for treating hypertension is necessary to encourage further discussion about his treatment choice. Acupuncture can be very effective.

Question 18

The home health nurse observes that there is still about half a month's supply of Glucophage in the medicine bottle at the end of the month. What question would be the most appropriate for the nurse to ask?

Accepted Answer

Many older adults with limited finances and limited access to a pharmacy will take less of a prescribed drug to conserve money.

Question 19

The 65-year-old overweight, hypertensive male farmer tells the home health nurse that he eats two fried eggs, four pieces of bacon, and biscuits with gravy every morning for breakfast because he believes that a robust breakfast keeps him healthy. What would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Health maintenance practices of the older adult are influenced by personal,religious,and cultural beliefs. Using the patient's beliefs as a basis for changing eating habits will be more successful than radically departing from lifetime habits or suggesting that they are ineffective.

Question 20

What is the best predictor that a hypertension patient will comply with a newly prescribed low-sodium diet?

Accepted Answer

Previous behavior is a good indicator of future practice.

Quiz 4: Health Promotion, Health Maintenance, and Home Health Considerations