5 - Cognition & Learning Flashcards
An older resident in a senior community tells a nurse: “I am really worried. I joined an exercise class, and I just learned everyone’s name yesterday, and I cannot remember them all today. Am I developing Alzheimer’s disease?” The best response by the nurse is:
a. ) “You should be concerned. It is very unusual to forget something that you just learned.”
b. ) “There is no reason to be concerned. Short-term memory decreases with age.”
c. ) “Don’t worry, a decline in both short- and long-term memory is a normal part of getting older.”
d. ) “Although it is normal to have some changes in memory, forgetting names is very unusual.”
b.) “There is no reason to be concerned. Short-term memory decreases with age.”
Even though some older adults show decrements in the ability to process information, the majority of functioning remains intact.
Age-associated memory impairment is used to describe memory loss that is considered normal for one’s age and educational level. It may include slowness in processing, storing, and recalling new information and difficulty remembering names and words.
A nurse is planning a fall prevention education refresher session for the residents of a long- term care facility. The individuals are all cognitively intact and range in age from 80 to 100. The previous education on fall prevention was presented 2 months ago. What special considerations should the nurse take in relation to teaching this group of older adults? (Select all that apply.)
a. ) Make sure that all pamphlets are in large readable font (14-16 points) and include upper and lower case lettering
b. ) Start education on falls from the beginning. It is unlikely that anyone remembers previous material
c. ) Present all the information at once in one long session
d. ) Ensure that there is adequate lighting in the room and that the temperature is comfortable
e. ) Provide ongoing positive feedback during the session
a, d, e
a.) Make sure that all pamphlets are in large readable font (14-16 points) and include upper and lower case lettering
d.) Ensure that there is adequate lighting in the room and that the temperature is comfortable
e.) Provide ongoing positive feedback during the session
When educating older adults it is important that it is pertinent and build upon information that they already possess. It is a myth that all older adults experience memory problems. It is important to provide adequate time for learning and to use self-paced techniques.
A nurse hears a colleague state the following: “Can you believe that Mr. Jones’ daughter just bought him a tablet computer? He is 90 years old. It is ridiculous to think that he can learn to use it.” The nurse formulates a response based on research that shows: (Select all that apply.)
a. ) older adults comprise the fastest growing population using computers and the Internet.
b. ) Internet use is less prevalent in individuals over age 75 than those ages 65-74.
c. ) older American men are the fastest growing group of social networking site users.
d. ) older adults use the Internet only for social networking and recreational uses.
e. ) technology has the potential to improve quality of life for older adults.
a, b, e
a.) older adults comprise the fastest growing population using computers and the Internet.
b.) Internet use is less prevalent in individuals over age 75 than those ages 65-74.
e.) technology has the potential to improve quality of life for older adults.
Older adults are the fastest growing population using computers and the Internet. Internet use does decrease in those over age 75 as compared to older adults less than age 75.
Older women are the fastest growing group of individuals using social networking sites. Older adults use technology for a whole host of reasons, both social and to communicate with health care providers and access health information.
Technology has a large potential to improve quality of life for older adults.
An older female resident of an assisted living facility says the following to a nurse: “I am very frightened about getting dementia. I have read a lot about brain exercises, but I am not sure what I should be doing.” The nurse formulates a response based on knowledge of which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
a. ) Individuals should engage in some type of brain fitness activity a couple of times a week for at least 25 minutes
b. ) Brain fitness activities are only effective if an individual has not experienced any memory problems at all
c. ) Brain fitness activities may include computer-based games, memory training, board games, reading, and engaging in conversation
d. ) Physical activity is important for wellness but is unrelated to brain fitness
e. ) Individuals should choose brain exercise activities that are unfamiliar, challenging, and fun
a, c, e
a.) Individuals should engage in some type of brain fitness activity a couple of times a week for at least 25 minutes
c.) Brain fitness activities may include computer-based games, memory training, board games, reading, and engaging in conversation
e.) Individuals should choose brain exercise activities that are unfamiliar, challenging, and fun
Brain fitness activities are effective for individuals with normal memory or mild memory problems. Physical activity is important and has an impact on improving reaction time and working memory as well as posture, balance, and socialization.
The daughter of an older hospitalized patient tells a nurse: “I am worried about my father. His memory is sharper when he is at home. He is forgetful, but is functional. Since he has been hospitalized his memory problems are much worse.” The best response by the nurse is:
a. ) “It is common for long-term memory to be more impacted by age-related changes than short-term memory.”
b. ) “Memory changes are often worse when an individual is in an unfamiliar or stressful situation.”
c. ) “Perhaps you are just noticing your father’s memory loss now that he is hospitalized.”
d. ) “There is a lot of new information for your father to process here in the hospital; he is overloaded.”
b.) “Memory changes are often worse when an individual is in an unfamiliar or stressful situation.”
Memory changes are often worse when the individual is in unfamiliar or stressful situations, such as a hospitalization.
Option A is not true, short-term memory is impacted more than long-term memory.
Options C and D are true; however, they do not address the issue that the patient’s daughter is discussing.
Health literacy is defined as:
a. ) the capacity to read basic health information in order to make appropriate health decisions.
b. ) the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.
c. ) the capacity to read and write in order to access health care.
d. ) the capacity to read and execute health care documents.
b.) the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.
Health literacy involves more than basic reading and writing skills. It involves the ability to obtain, process, and understand health information in order to make health care decisions.
A nurse is developing an educational session for a group of older adults at a senior center. Which of the following would the nurse include in the education? (Select all that apply.)
a. ) Attention span, language, and communication skills typically remain stable with increasing age
b. ) Older brains slow down and take longer to process constantly increasing amounts of information
c. ) In order to preserve brain function, it is important to engage in challenging cognitive activities
d. ) Older adults are not able to develop new cognitive abilities
e. ) Individuals over age 100 have a higher prevalence of dementia than younger individuals
a, b, c
a.) Attention span, language, and communication skills typically remain stable with increasing age
b.) Older brains slow down and take longer to process constantly increasing amounts of information
c.) In order to preserve brain function, it is important to engage in challenging cognitive activities
Older adulthood is no longer seen as a period when cognitive development is halted; it is a life stage where unique capacities are developed. Centenarians and super-centenarians have a lower prevalence of dementia then those under age 100.
