Geriatrics Flashcards
What is the “oldest old” segment of the population?
85+
What happens to cerebral blood flow with aging?
Decreases
What happens to the transport across the BBB with aging?
Increases
What is the major concern with increased fat with aging in terms of drug prescriptions?
More lipophilic drugs stay around longer–lower doses needed
IQ is stable until what age?
80
True or false: the verbal abilities of the elderly generally decline with age
False
True or false: simple recall declines with older age
True
True or false: Recognition is generally intact in the elderly
True
Does personality change much with age?
Thinking is no
What is the role of social activity in the elderly?
Socially active seniors are generally healthier, both physically and emotionally
What is the major issue with retirement in some older folk?
Loss of identity and self esteem
True or false: most people who retire voluntarily will not re-enter the workforce
False–will reenter the workforce in 2 years
What happens to sexuality with geriatrics?
- Frequency of orgasms declines
- social/culture factors prevent them to realize their full sexual potential
The level of sexual activity in the elderly depends largely on what?
The presence of and health of the spouse
Who are the usual caregivers with the elderly?
Wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law
Do caregivers to the elderly usually have jobs outside the home?
Yes–more than 50%
What are the levels of care for the elderly?
- Home care services
- Assisted living
- Nursing homes
- Memory care units
True or false: there is a good correlation between physical health, and mental health in older patients
True
What is the major challenge with family dynamics in the elderly?
Maintaining appropriate boundaries, and ensuring that information is released appropriately
How hard is it to get durable power of attorney for healthcare?
Tough-ish (legal document must be signed)
What is the difference between a guardianship vs a conservatorship?
Conservatorship = Court ordered person to look over a specific aspect of a pt’s life (financial)
Guardianship = Personal and property interests of a person is given to another
True or false: a civil commitment can be filed by anyone
True–but need two
True or false: mental decline falls under the jurisdiction of civil commitment
True
Which is judge determined: competency vs capacity
Competency
Does self-abuse (e.g. no eating/drink etc) fall under the category of dependent adult abuse?
Yes