Geriatrics Flashcards
Your 78-year-old patient gives a history of congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency, and type 2 diabetes. Together, these conditions are called:
Question 1 options:
A)
confounding conditions.
B)
polypathophysiology.
C)
comorbid conditions.
D)
functional impairments.
comorbid conditions
The study of the effects of aging and age-related diseases in human beings is called:
Question 2 options:
A)
geriatrics.
B)
senescence.
C)
gerontology.
D)
dementiology.
gerontology
The term elderly applies to a person beginning at age:
Question 3 options:
A)
80.
B)
55.
C)
70.
D)
65.
65
Elderly people who live alone are more likely to be:
Question 4 options:
A)
male, under age 80.
B)
male, age 85 or older.
C)
female, age 85 or older.
D)
female, under age 80.
female age 85 or older
You have been asked to deliver a talk about the geriatric population. Which of the following points would you emphasize in your presentation?
Question 5 options:
A)
Dementia and chronic disease are both an inevitable part of the aging process.
B)
Many of the elderly have a combination of different diseases in various stages.
C)
Assessment can be difficult because most persons older than 70 have some degree of dementia.
D)
Geriatric patients actually comprise a smaller number of EMS calls and transports than generally thought.
many of the elderly have a combination of different diseases in varying stages
Which of the following statements regarding EMS consideration of psychosocial issues in elderly patients is TRUE?
Question 6 options:
A)
It is unlikely that an elderly patient in a nursing facility will be as well cared for as one who lives at home.
B)
Most elderly patients are lonely and isolated, and may not be able to care for themselves.
C)
Successful medical treatment of elderly patients involves an understanding of the broader social situation in which they live.
D)
Elderly patients usually have limited income, and are likely to be unable to afford expensive medication.
successful medical treatment of elderly patients involves understanding the broader social situation in which they live
Which of the following is an appropriate question to ask of an elderly patient who lives alone?
Question 7 options:
A)
“Is there someone you can call if you have trouble with your medications tonight?”
B)
“Are you sure you are capable of taking care of yourself?”
C)
“Don’t you know living alone is dangerous at your age?”
D)
“Isn’t there anyone who could move in with you to help you?”
is there someone you can call if you have trouble with your medications tonight
While you are off-duty, a friend, who knows you are a paramedic, expresses concern about her elderly parents. She knows that their health needs are changing, but does not know what to do to help. Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate resource for her to use?
Question 8 options:
A)
The local community senior center
B)
AARP
C)
OSHA
D)
Department of Health and Human Services
OSHA
Which of the following is NOT a factor in altered pharmacokinetics in the elderly?
Question 9 options:
A)
Decreased hepatic function
B)
Increased total body water
C)
Decreased renal function
D)
Slowed drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract
increased total body water
An 84-year-old man complains of generalized weakness and an ache in his left shoulder. He also reports mild shortness of breath and has clear lung sounds and an SpO2 of 96%. When asked, he claims that the discomfort started after getting out of bed two hours ago. He denies any known injury to his shoulder or back. He has a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, TIA, and dementia. Your differential diagnosis for this patient should include:
Question 10 options:
A)
COPD, stroke, and medication overdose.
B)
trauma, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia.
C)
myocardial infarction, stroke, and musculoskeletal trauma.
D)
aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction.
myocardial infarction stroke and musculoskeletal trauma
A 97-year-old man became dizzy and fell onto the floor. You find him sitting on the floor with his wife next to him. His wife states that he did not lose consciousness and that this has happened several times over the past two days. Currently, the patient is alert and oriented and complaining of dizziness and a headache. He has a history of coronary artery disease, emphysema, and hypertension, and states that he saw his doctor two days ago. Which one of the following questions would be most helpful in identifying the cause of this patient’s signs and symptoms?
Question 11 options:
A)
“Have you ever had a stroke?”
B)
“Did the doctor prescribe any new medications?”
C)
“Why didn’t you call 911 when he fell before?”
D)
“When was the last time you ate or drank anything?”
did the doctor prescribe any new medications
You are called to a residence for an unresponsive patient. The patient, an 86-year-old man, has reportedly been depressed recently. An empty bottle of Inderal is next to the patient, who is bradycardic and hypotensive. To best care for this patient, you should:
Question 12 options:
A)
administer 1 mg of epinephrine 1:10,000.
B)
administer glucagon.
C)
apply pads and perform synchronized cardioversion.
D)
apply pacer pads and pace at a rate of 80 per minute.
administer glucagon
A 78-year-old woman complains of dizziness, visual disturbances, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Which of the following medications would be most likely to cause these symptoms?
Question 13 options:
A)
Coumadin
B)
Pradaxa
C)
Enalapril
D)
Digitalis
Digitalis
Which of the following statements regarding pharmacokinetics and the aging process is TRUE?
Question 14 options:
A)
Functional changes in the kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal system slow the absorption and elimination of many medications.
B)
Cardiac cells become more sensitive to medication as they age, meaning that lower doses of cardiac medications are necessary.
C)
Aging causes the kidneys to filter out more waste products, enhancing the absorption of many medications.
D)
The GI tract of an elderly patient quickly processes medications, meaning that medications have a shorter half-life than in younger patients.
functional changes in the kidneys liver and gastrointestinal system slow the absorption and elimination of many medications
You are at the home of a 92-year-old male patient. He is alert and oriented and in good spirits and, although mildly hearing impaired, can hear you if you speak clearly and face him as you speak. He has no teeth and is not wearing dentures. His speech is indistinct and difficult to understand. Which of the following is the best course of action?
Question 15 options:
A)
Ask a family member to “translate,” because the family is probably able to understand him better.
B)
Ask him to put in his dentures if he has them. Locate them for him if necessary.
C)
See if he can write down what he wants to say. His speech may be impaired from a stroke rather than a lack of dentition.
D)
Tell him to respond to your questions with simple hand gestures.
ask him to put in his dentures if he has them. locate them for him if necessary
Which of the following statements is TRUE of falls in the elderly?
Question 16 options:
A)
Falls in the elderly are not preventable.
B)
Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in the elderly.
C)
The elderly have the highest incidence of falls.
D)
All of these are true.
falls are the leading cause of accidental death in the elderly
Which of the following statements is TRUE of falls in the elderly?
Question 16 options:
A)
Falls in the elderly are not preventable.
B)
Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in the elderly.
C)
The elderly have the highest incidence of falls.
D)
All of these are true.
transport the patient because she has a potentially serious medical problem
Which of the following is NOT a complication caused by incontinence?
Question 18 options:
A)
Sepsis
B)
Urinary tract infection
C)
Skin ulcer
D)
Diverticulosis
diverticulosis
You are caring for an elderly patient who lives alone. The patient is complaining of feeling unwell for a period of several days and seems to be unable to provide a detailed personal medical history. An appropriate assessment of this patient should include:
Question 19 options:
A)
exposing the patient to look for signs of physical abuse.
B)
contacting the patient’s physician to obtain an accurate history.
C)
contacting adult protective services to report an unsafe living situation.
D)
an assessment of living conditions, nutrition, and social support.
an assessment of living conditions nutrition and social support
An 85-year-old man has fallen down five stairs to the carpeted floor below. He hit his head and is complaining of a headache. When getting a history from this patient, what question should you ask first?
Question 20 options:
A)
“Have you ever been diagnosed with dementia?”
B)
“Do you have a history of medical problems?”
C)
“What medications are you taking?”
D)
“What caused you to fall?”
what caused you to fall
An 87-year-old woman fell while getting out of bed. She is on the floor with severe pain to her left hip. Family members tell you that she takes medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression. When assessing the patient, what assessment finding is most concerning?
Question 21 options:
A)
Weak pedal pulse in the left foot
B)
Heart rate of 118 beats per minute
C)
Respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute
D)
External rotation of the hip
heart rate of 118 beats per min
Which of the following statements demonstrates an accurate understanding of vital signs in relation to the geriatric patient?
Question 22 options:
A)
The typical resting heart rate is less than 50 beats per minute.
B)
The vital signs of an elderly patient are similar to those of an adolescent.
C)
The resting respiratory rate is typically higher in the elderly.
D)
Blood pressure is typically higher in elderly women.
the resting respiratory rate is typically higher in the elderly
You have been called for a 72-year-old woman with chest pain. On scene, the patient denies ever having chest pain and requests to sign a refusal. Before having the refusal signed, the paramedic must consider that many geriatric patients may deny symptoms because of:
Question 23 options:
A)
apprehension about medical bills.
B)
confusion regarding their rights as a patient.
C)
acute onset of dementia and other neurological diseases.
D)
fear of losing independence and dignity.
fear of losing independence and dignity
Common mental health problems in the geriatric population include all of the following EXCEPT:
Question 24 options:
A)
depression.
B)
affective disorders.
C)
post-traumatic stress disorder.
D)
suicide.
post traumatic stress disorder
