Question 1

The nurse asks an older female person, "Which countries were your favourite travelling destinations?" Which strategy is the most important for the nurse to incorporate into communicating with this older person?

Accepted Answer

Older adults may take longer to process information and respond, so allocating more time for answering is crucial to ensure effective communication.

Question 2

Which of the following is a good strategy to use for teaching older-person learners?

Accepted Answer

Providing extra time for the learner to respond is a good strategy for teaching older-person learners as they may take longer to process information and respond. This allows them to feel less pressured and better able to participate in the learning process. The other options may not necessarily be effective or appropriate for all older-person learners.

Question 3

An older person receives speech therapy for dysarthria.Which advice should the nurse offer the older person to enhance the speech therapist's work?

Accepted Answer

Practicing facial exercises regularly can help improve muscle strength and coordination, which can be beneficial for someone with dysarthria, a condition that affects speech articulation due to muscle weakness or incoordination.

Question 4

Which of the following is a true statement concerning communication with an older person who has aphasia?

Accepted Answer

Paying attention to speech and word recognition patterns can help the nurse understand how the older person is communicating and tailor their approach accordingly. This can improve communication and facilitate rehabilitation. While simplifying language may be helpful in some cases, it is not always necessary or appropriate for all individuals with aphasia. Similarly, exposure to different staff members may or may not be beneficial, depending on the individual's specific needs and preferences. While alternative and augmentative tools are not appropriate for all types of aphasia, there are a variety of options available to support communication, and it is important for the nurse to be familiar with these tools and how to use them effectively.

Question 5

Which chronic condition is the most common sensory impairment in Canadians over the age of 60?

Accepted Answer

Hearing loss is the most common sensory impairment in Canadians over the age of 60, affecting their ability to communicate effectively and impacting their quality of life.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true about forming a group with older persons?

Accepted Answer

Older persons may have more health issues and therefore may miss group meetings due to illness, death, or other reasons. Group leaders must be prepared for this and have plans in place to address the situation.

Answer: B
 Including persons with diverse levels of cognitive ability can ensure that everyone feels valued and included in the group. It also promotes socialization and can provide opportunities for intergenerational learning.

Answer: C
 A group leader who is prone to depression may not be the best choice as they may not have the emotional capacity to handle the depression and losses suffered by group members. It is important for group leaders to be empathetic, but they also need to have the emotional and mental capacity to handle the challenges that arise.

Answer: D
 The choice of meeting time depends on the preferences of the group members. While some older persons may prefer evening meetings, others may prefer daytime meetings. It is important to survey group members to determine the best meeting time for everyone.

Question 7

Which type of question should the nurse avoid when communicating with an older person who has aphasia?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding questions with open-ended answers can be helpful for individuals with aphasia because they may struggle with finding the right words to express their thoughts. Instead, asking more specific and direct questions can be easier for them to answer.

Question 8

Dysarthria is defined by which of the following descriptions?

Accepted Answer

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder that affects the physical production of speech, including difficulties with articulation, pronunciation, and breath control. It can be caused by neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson's disease. Options A, C, and D describe other speech or language difficulties.

Question 9

The nurse needs to obtain information from an older person who has dysarthria.If the nurse experiences difficulty in understanding the older person, which one of the following actions would be the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse needs to obtain information from...

Question 10

A patient says, "Peace wing we uh meng meng." What is your response?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient says, "Peace wing we uh...

Question 11

The nurse has to teach an 85-year-old male and his family about a new medication.Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to enhance patient teaching?

Accepted Answer

To enhance patient teaching for an 85-year-old male, it is important to face the patient directly and speak clearly in a quiet place. This helps the patient to hear and understand the information better. Displaying the medication close to the family while teaching or telling the family members they will need to administer the medication may create confusion and anxiety for the patient. Speaking slowly, using repetition, and paraphrasing is helpful, but the primary intervention should be to ensure clear communication by facing the patient directly and speaking clearly.

Question 12

Which of the following strategies is most useful for communicating with an older person who is experiencing cognitive impairment?

Accepted Answer

Using multiple ways of communicating can help make sure that the message is understood by the person experiencing cognitive impairment. Simply speaking normally may not be enough if the person is having difficulty understanding language. Correcting the person or communicating infrequently may cause frustration and worsen communication.

Question 13

An older male person who wears a hearing aid waits in the radiology department.The department is busy and noisy, so the nurse asks the patient if he wants to wait or reschedule the appointment.Which of the following is the most important strategy for the nurse to implement for effective communication with this man?

Accepted Answer

Speaking with the patient in a private, quiet setting would be the most effective strategy for communication with an older person wearing a hearing aid in a busy and noisy department. This would improve the patient's ability to hear and understand the nurse's communication. Facing the patient while sitting at his level (A) is also helpful for patients with hearing impairments, but it may not be feasible in a busy radiology department. Verifying that the information is understood (C) is important in all patient interactions but may not be enough to address the communication challenges with a patient wearing a hearing aid in a noisy environment. Asking if hearing is better in one ear or another (D) may be relevant but is not the most important strategy for effective communication in this scenario.

Question 14

The vision of a female patient is deteriorating, and she is depressed about her condition.Which of the following nursing interventions is most likely to address both conditions?

Accepted Answer

Training the patient with low-vision assistive devices can improve her vision and also help her feel empowered and independent, potentially reducing feelings of depression. Providing adequate lighting and maintaining a consistent room arrangement can also be helpful for improving vision, but may not directly address depression. Offering your arm when ambulating in the hall can improve safety, but is not likely to have a significant impact on vision or depression.

Question 15

An older person living in long-term care begins to forget where activities occur, so the nurse engages her in reminiscence.Which goal of reminiscence is the most relevant to improve the nurse's communication with this older person?

Accepted Answer

Reminiscence therapy, by encouraging the older person to recall and talk about past experiences, provides cognitive stimulation. This can help improve memory function and orientation, which is particularly relevant when the individual begins to forget where activities occur.

Quiz 3: Communicating With Older Persons