Geriatric's

Question 0

What are four reasons that the geriatric population has been increasing?

Answer 0

Mean survival rate of older persons is increasing

Birth rate is declining

Absence of major wars or catastrophes

Healthcare and standards of living has been improved since WW2

Question 1

Between 1960 and 1990 the geriatric population has rose by how much?

Answer 1

Doubled

Question 2

Define Gerontology

Answer 2

Study of aging on the human body

Question 3

Define geriatrics

Answer 3

The study and treatment of diseases related to elderly

Question 4

What sort of societal issues do geriatric patients face?

Answer 4

Sense of social isolation

Reduced usefulness

Retirement related issues; reduced income, relocation, loss of family, friends, spouse and/or partner.

Question 5

What two types of living environments do the elderly live in?

Answer 5

Independent and dependent living environments

Question 6

__% of persons over 75 report feelings of loneliness.

Answer 6

60%

Question 7

90% of elderly persons who live alone choose to maintain their independence, why?

Answer 7

Fear of being helpless

Wish not to burden friends and family

They see their illnesses as a part of aging and refuse to ask for help or complain

Question 8

What risks are associated with elderly patients that have limited mobility and limited finances?

Answer 8

Accidental hypothermia

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Fires

Taking half-doses of medications to save money

Question 9

What is an advanced directive?

Answer 9

A legal document prepared while a patient is competent, alive and able to make informed decisions regarding healthcare. Provides guidelines on treatment if a person is no longer competent to make decisions

Question 10

What costs do Medicare part A, part B and part D cover?

Answer 10

Part A covers in-hospital treatment

Part B covers physician and outpatient treatment

Part D covers prescription drugs

Question 11

Although medicaid was designed to assist low-income families and persons with disabilities, the high cost of healthcare has brought many elderly patients into the medicaid program. Medicaid contributes __% of financing for nursing facilities.

Answer 11

45%

Question 12

The best intervention for elderly patients is?

Answer 12

Prevention

Question 13

Medical disorders in the elderly often present as what?

Answer 13

Functional impairment (decreased ability to meet daily needs on an independent basis), should be treated as early signs of possibly undetected medical disorder.

Question 14

Signs and symptoms for elderly patients may not necessarily point to the underlying cause, why is that?

Answer 14

Elderly patients often suffer from a wide range of disorders. I.E.

Confusion may indicate brain disease in a younger patient however, an elderly patient may be suffering from drug toxicity, malnutrition, and/or accidental hypothermia

Question 15

Define comorbidity

Answer 15

Having more than one disease at a time.

Question 16

Complaints of the elderly may not necessarily be related to one disorder, what are common complaints of the elderly?

Answer 16

Fatigue and weakness

Dizziness/vertigo/syncope

Falls

Headaches

Insomnia

Dysphagia

Loss of appetite

Inability to void

Constipation and diarrhea

Question 17

Define polypharmacy

Answer 17

Multiple drug therapy in which there is concurrent use of two or more drugs

Question 18

Because of pharmacokinetic changes in the body at older ages such as loss of body fluid and atrophy of organs what happens to concentrations of drugs in the body?

Answer 18

Concentrate more readily into the plasma and tissues

As a result of this drug dosages must be adjusted to prevent toxicity

Question 19

When taking a medical history of an elderly patient regarding their medications what is a important question to ask?

Answer 19

If the patient is compliant with taking the medications as prescribed.

Question 20

What are the two most effective preventative measures or ensuring mobility in the elderly?

Answer 20

Regular exercise

Good diet

Question 21

What is the leading cause of accidental death in the elderly?

Answer 21

Fall-related injuries

Question 22

Define incontinence

Answer 22

Inability to retain urine or fecal matter due to loss of sphincter control or cerebral or spinal lesions

Question 23

Effective continence require several physical factors, these include

Answer 23

Anatomically correct GI/GU tract

Competent sphincter mechanism

Adequate cognition and mobility

Question 24

In elderly patients with cerebrovascular disease or impaired baroreceptors, efforts to force a bowel movement may lead to what?

Answer 24

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Syncope

Question 25

In assessing an elderly patient for constipation what drugs may cause constipation?

Answer 25

Opioids

Anticholinergics (I.E. antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, antiparkinsonian, drugs)

Cation containing agents (I.E. antacids, calcium supplements, iron supplements)

Neurally active agents (I.E. opiates, anticonvulsants)

Diuretics

Question 26

What are three physical changes that may develop in the cardiovascular system on an elderly patient?

Answer 26

Hypertrophy of the left ventricle wall

Fibrosis develops in the heart and peripheral vascular system

Aorta lengthens and stiffens

Question 27

With patients that have cardiac compromise or complaints what can be an effective way to manage these complaints?

Answer 27

Ask patient to stop all physical activity

DO NOT walk a patient around and/or to the ambulance.

Question 28

Unlike cells in other systems what can the nervous system cells NOT DO?

Answer 28

Reproduce

Question 29

Define pneumonia

Answer 29

Infection of the lung caused by bacterium or virus