Chapter 03: Common Health Problems of Older Adults Flashcards
A nurse learns that the fastest growing subset of the older population is which group?
Old old
A nurse working with older adults in the community plans programming to improve morale and emotional health in this population.
What activity would best meet this goal?
Exercise program to improve physical function
Activities would be beneficial for the older population in the community.
A nurse caring for an older client on a medical-surgical unit notices the client reports frequent constipation and only wants to eat softer foods such as rice, bread, and puddings. What assessment would the nurse perform first
Perform an oral assessment
Poorly fitting dentures and other dental problems are often manifested by a preference for soft foods and constipation from the lack
of fiber
A nurse caring for an older adult has provided education on high-fiber foods. Which menu selection by the client demonstrates a
need for further review?
White rice
Older adults need 35 to 50 g of fiber a day. White rice is low in fiber
Foods high in fiber include barley, beans, and whole-wheat nproducts.
A nurse is working with an older client admitted with mild dehydration. What teaching does the nurse provide to best address this issue?
“Have something to drink every 1 to 2 hours.”
Older adults often lose their sense of thirst. Plus older adults have less body water than younger people. Since they should drink 1
to 2 L of water a day, the best remedy is to have the older adult drink something each hour or two, whether or not he or she is
thirsty.
A home health care nurse is planning an exercise program with an older adult who lives at home independently but whose mobility
issues prevent much activity outside the home. Which exercise regimen would be most beneficial to this adult?
Building strength and flexibility
This older adult is mostly homebound. Exercise regimens for homebound clients include things to increase functional fitness and
ability for activities of daily living. Strength and flexibility will help the client to be able to maintain independence longer.
An older adult recently retired and reports “being depressed and lonely.” What information would the nurse assess as a priority?
Role of work in the adult’s life
Establishing and maintaining relationships with others throughout life are especially important to the older person’s happiness.
When people retire, they may lose much of their social network, leading them to feeling depressed and lonely. This loss from a
sudden change in lifestyle can easily lead to depression.
A nurse is assessing coping in older women in a support group for recent widows. Which statement by a participant best indicates potential for successful coping?
“I have had the same best friend for decades.”
Friendship and support enhance coping. The quality of the relationship is what is most important.
A home health care nurse has conducted a home safety assessment for an older adult. There are five concrete steps leading out from the front door. Which intervention would be most helpful in keeping the older adult safe on the steps?
Teach the client to hold the handrail when using the steps
As a person ages, he or she may experience a decreased sense of touch. The older adult may not be aware of where his or her foot is
on the step. Combined with diminished visual acuity, this can create a fall hazard. Holding the handrail would help keep the person
safer.
An older adult is brought to the emergency department because of sudden onset of confusion. After the client is stabilized and
comfortable, what assessment by the nurse is most important?
Determine if there are new medications.
Medication side effects and adverse effects are common in the older population. Something as simple as a new antibiotic can cause
confusion and memory loss.
An older adult client takes medication three times a day and becomes confused about which medication should be taken at which time. The client refuses to use a pill sorter with slots for different times, saying “Those are for old people.” What action by the
nurse would be most helpful?
Put color-coded stickers on the bottle caps
An older adult client is in the hospital. The client is ambulatory and independent. What intervention by the nurse would be most
helpful in preventing falls in this client?
Keep the light on in the bathroom at night
Although this older adult is independent and ambulatory, being hospitalized can create confusion. Getting up in a dark, unfamiliar
environment can contribute to falls. Keeping the light on in the bathroom will help reduce the likelihood of falling.
An older client had hip replacement surgery and the surgeon prescribed morphine sulfate for pain. The client is allergic to morphine and reports pain and muscle spasms. When the nurse calls the surgeon, which medication would he or she suggest in place of the morphine?
Hydromorphone hydrochloriden (Dilaudid)
A nurse admits an older adult from a home environment. The client lives with an adult son and daughter-in-law. The client has
urine burns on the skin, no dentures, and several pressure injuries. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
Report the findings as per agency policy
These findings are suspicious for abuse. Health care providers are mandatory reporters for suspected abuse. The nurse would notify
social work, case management, or whomever is designated in facility policies.
A nurse caring for an older client in the hospital is concerned the client is not competent to give consent for upcoming surgery. What action by the nurse is best?
Discuss concerns with the health care team.
