Gerontology

Question 1

What is Delirium?

Answer 1

aka: acute confusion; abrupt onset of confusion and a reversible cause

Question 2

What is Dementia?

Answer 2

a global impairment of cognitive function that usually is progressive and may be permanent; interference with normal social and occupational activities

Question 3

CAM

Answer 3

Confusion Assessment Method
Part one is an assessment instrument that screens for overall cognitive impairment. Part two includes only four features that were found to have the greatest ability to distinguish delirium or reversible confusion from other types of cognitive impairment, namely: Onset and course; Attention; Thinking; and Level of consciousness

Question 4

Risk Factors for Delirium

Answer 4

lmmobilization, UTI, infection, ETOH, med illness, environmental change, polypharmacy, dehydration

Question 5

Delrium Signs

Answer 5

disorientation to time and place (usually with illusions and hallucinations); hyper-alert or difficult to arouse; reduced ability to focus,

Question 6

Duration of delirium

Answer 6

Temporary; Ranges from hours to days; Onset is short and sudden

Question 7

Dementia Onset

Answer 7

Slow, chronic, gradual, irreversible

Question 8

Hyperactive delirium

Answer 8

restless, agitated, and disoriented

Question 9

Hypoactive Delirium

Answer 9

quiet, confused, disoriented, apathy (which is often confused with depression)

Question 10

Mixed Delirium

Answer 10

Client has symptoms of hyperactive delirium at night and hypoactive delirium in the day

Question 11

AD

Answer 11

Alzheimer’s Disease - progressive dementia, memory loss and inability to care for oneself

Question 12

Young Old Ages

Answer 12

60-74

Question 13

Old Ages

Answer 13

75-84

Question 14

Old-Old

Answer 14

85-100

Question 15

Centenarians

Answer 15

Over 100 y/o

Question 16

Ageism

Answer 16

negative attitudes toward aging or older adults

Question 17

Sarcopenia

Answer 17

steady decrease in muscle fibers, occurring mostly with age

Question 18

Wear and Tear Theory

Answer 18

proposes that humans have vital parts that run down with time leading to aging and death;cells wear out through internal and external stressors

Question 19

Endocrine Theory

Answer 19

events occurring in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands lead to changes in hormone production resulting in decline

Question 20

Free-radical theory

Answer 20

unstable free-radicals result from the oxidation of organic materials like proteins and carbohydrates; the radicals casue biochemical changes in cells and cell cannot regenerate

Question 21

Genetic Theory

Answer 21

organism is genetically programmed for certain # of cell divisions; damage to protein synthesis means faulty cells will be synthesized and will gradually accumulate causing decline

Question 22

Cross-link Theory

Answer 22

irreversible aging of proteins, like collagen, is responsible for ultimate tissue and organ failure

Question 23

Immunologic Theory

Answer 23

immune system becomes less effective with age resulting in reduced resistance to infectious disease and viruses; an increase in autoimmune response causing the body to produce antibodies that attack itself

Question 24

Why are older adults at greater risk of dehydration?

Answer 24

intracellular fluid decreases and leads to reduced total body fluid

Question 25

Increased skin dryness is a result of

Answer 25

decreased sebaceous gland activity

Question 26

Increased skin pallor is a result of

Answer 26

decreased vascularity

Question 27

Increased skin fragility is a result of

Answer 27

reduced thickness and vascularity of the dermis; loss of subcutaneous fat

Question 28

Progressive wrinkling and sagging of the skin is a result of

Answer 28

loss of skin elasticity, increased dryness, and decreased subcutaneous fat

Question 29

Slower nail growth and thickening with ridges is a result of

Answer 29

increased calcium deposition

Question 30

Decreased speed and power of skeletal muscle contractions is a result of

Answer 30

decrease in muscle fibers

Question 31

Slowed reaction time is a result of

Answer 31

diminished conduction speed of nerve fibers and decreased muscle tone

Question 32

Loss of bone mass is a result of

Answer 32

bone reabsorption outpaces bone reformation

Question 33

Impaired balance is a result of

Answer 33

decreased muscle strength, reaction time, and coordination, change in center of gravity

Question 34

Reduced filtering ability of the kidney and impaired renal function is a result of

Answer 34

decreased number of functioning nephrons and arteriosclerotic changes in blood flow

Question 35

Less effective concentration of urine is a result of

Answer 35

decreased tubular function

Question 36

Nocturnal frequency and retention of residual urine is a result of

Answer 36

decreased bladder capacity and tone

Question 37

Orthostatic Hypotension in older adults is a result of

Answer 37

reduced sensitivity of the blood pressure-regulating baroreceptors

Question 38

Presbyopia is a result of

Answer 38

inelasticity of the eye, vision loss

Question 39

Presbycusis is a result of

Answer 39

changes in the structures and nerve tissues in the inner ear, thickening of the eardrum

Question 40

What is kyphosis?

Answer 40

humpback, curvature of the upper spine

Question 41

Pathological fractures

Answer 41

spontaneous fractures occurring without fall or trauma; seen in osteoporosis

Question 42

Loss of skin receptors leads to

Answer 42

increased threshold for sensations of pain, touch, temperature

Question 43

UI

Answer 43

urinary incontinence is never normal

Question 44

Xerostoma in older adults is a result of

Answer 44

(dry mouth) caused by reduced production of saliva and make the oral mucosa more susceptible to infection

Question 45

The decrease in the intrinsic factor

Answer 45

(needed for B-12 production) leads to pernicious anemia

Question 46

Older adult BP changes

Answer 46

it is not unusual to have a slight increase in the systolic pressure while the diastolic pressure remains the same

Question 47

Respiratory efficiency decline with age but TIDAL VOLUME

Answer 47

(the air moved in and out during normal respiration) remains the same

Question 48

Disengagement Theory

Answer 48

aging involves mutual withdrawal between the older person and others in the older person's environment

Question 49

Activity Theory

Answer 49

the best way to age is to stay active physically and mentally

Question 50

Continuity Theory

Answer 50

people maintain their values, habits, and behavior in old age

Question 51

Dementia is clinically defined as

Answer 51

- development of multiple cognitive deficits including memory impairment and at least one of the following: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, amnesia, disturbed execution functioning - severe enough to impair occup/social functioning - slow decline from prior fx - not occurring exclusively during a course of delirium