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Nursing Fundamentals > Gerontology > Flashcards

Gerontology Flashcards

1
Q

What is Delirium?

A

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

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2
Q

What is Dementia?

A

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

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3
Q

CAM

A

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

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4
Q

Risk Factors for Delirium

A

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

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5
Q

Delrium Signs

A

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

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6
Q

Duration of delirium

A

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

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7
Q

Dementia Onset

A

Slow, chronic, gradual, irreversible

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8
Q

Hyperactive delirium

A

restless, agitated, and disoriented

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9
Q

Hypoactive Delirium

A

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

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10
Q

Mixed Delirium

A

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

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11
Q

AD

A

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

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12
Q

Young Old Ages

A

60-74

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13
Q

Old Ages

A

75-84

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14
Q

Old-Old

A

85-100

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15
Q

Centenarians

A

Over 100 y/o

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16
Q

Ageism

A

negative attitudes toward aging or older adults

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17
Q

Sarcopenia

A

steady decrease in muscle fibers, occurring mostly with age

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18
Q

Wear and Tear Theory

A

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

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19
Q

Endocrine Theory

A

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

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20
Q

Free-radical theory

A

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

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21
Q

Genetic Theory

A

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

22
Q

Cross-link Theory

A

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

23
Q

Immunologic Theory

A

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

24
Q

Why are older adults at greater risk of dehydration?

A

intracellular fluid decreases and leads to reduced total body fluid

25
Q

Increased skin dryness is a result of

A

decreased sebaceous gland activity

26
Q

Increased skin pallor is a result of

A

decreased vascularity

27
Q

Increased skin fragility is a result of

A

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

28
Q

Progressive wrinkling and sagging of the skin is a result of

A

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

29
Q

Slower nail growth and thickening with ridges is a result of

A

increased calcium deposition

30
Q

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

A

decrease in muscle fibers

31
Q

Slowed reaction time is a result of

A

diminished conduction speed of nerve fibers and decreased muscle tone

32
Q

Loss of bone mass is a result of

A

bone reabsorption outpaces bone reformation

33
Q

Impaired balance is a result of

A

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

34
Q

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

A

decreased number of functioning nephrons and arteriosclerotic changes in blood flow

35
Q

Less effective concentration of urine is a result of

A

decreased tubular function

36
Q

Nocturnal frequency and retention of residual urine is a result of

A

decreased bladder capacity and tone

37
Q

Orthostatic Hypotension in older adults is a result of

A

reduced sensitivity of the blood pressure-regulating baroreceptors

38
Q

Presbyopia is a result of

A

inelasticity of the eye, vision loss

39
Q

Presbycusis is a result of

A

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

40
Q

What is kyphosis?

A

humpback, curvature of the upper spine

41
Q

Pathological fractures

A

spontaneous fractures occurring without fall or trauma; seen in osteoporosis

42
Q

Loss of skin receptors leads to

A

increased threshold for sensations of pain, touch, temperature

43
Q

UI

A

urinary incontinence is never normal

44
Q

Xerostoma in older adults is a result of

A

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

45
Q

The decrease in the intrinsic factor

A

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

46
Q

Older adult BP changes

A

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

47
Q

Respiratory efficiency decline with age but TIDAL VOLUME

A

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

48
Q

Disengagement Theory

A

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

49
Q

Activity Theory

A

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

50
Q

Continuity Theory

A

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

51
Q

Dementia is clinically defined as

A
  • 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

Nursing Fundamentals (7 decks)

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