Gerontology

Question 1

What is the study of all aspects of the aging process and its consequences?

Answer 1

gerontology

Question 2

What is the discrimination of people because of increasing age?

Answer 2

ageism

Question 3

What are the two types of biological theories of aging?

Answer 3

Stochastic

Nonstochastic

Question 4

Which biological theory of aging views aging as the result of random cellular damage that occurs over time?

Answer 4

Stochastic theory

Question 5

Which biological theory of aging views aging as the result of genetically programmed physiological mechanisms within the the body that control the process of aging?

Answer 5

nonstochastic theory

Question 6

What is the psychosocial theory of aging that states that aging individuals withdraw from customary roles and engage in more introspective, self-focused activities?

Answer 6

Disengagement theory

Question 7

What is the psychosocial theory of aging that considers the continuation of activities performed during middle age as necessary for successful aging?

Answer 7

Activity Theory

Question 8

What is the psychosocial theory of aging that suggests that personality remains stable and behavior becomes more predictable as people age?

Answer 8

Continuity/Developmental theory

Question 9

What is the psychosocial theory of aging that proposes that the older adult experiences a shift in perspective with age?

Answer 9

Gerotranscendence

Question 10

What is the best way for a patient to evaluate the quality of a nursing center in a community?

Answer 10

visit the facility and inspect it personally

Question 11

What basic criteria should a nursing home meet? (4)

Answer 11

• should not feel like a hospital
• has adequate, certified staff
• has social & recreational activities
• is clean

Question 12

What does gerontology nursing require?

Answer 12

creative approaches for maximizing the potential of older adults

Question 13

What are the five key points of a gerontological nursing assessment?

Answer 13

1. The interrelation between physical and psychosocial aspects of aging.
2. The effects of diseases and disability on functional status.
3. The decreased efficiency of homeostatic mechanisms.
4. The lack of standards for health and illness norms.
5. Altered presentation and response to a specific disease.

Question 14

Which communication techniques can be used when speaking to a person with visual impairments? (4)

Answer 14

1. Sit/Stand at eye level
2. Face the older adult while speaking; do not cover mouth.
3. Provide diffuse, bright, nonglare lighting.
4. Encourage older adult to use his/her familiar assistive devises.

Question 15

What defines quality of life?

Answer 15

perception of well-being

Question 16

What are normal aging related changes in the integumentary system?

Answer 16

• Skin loses resilience and moisture
• epithelial layer thins
• elastic collagen fibers shrink and become rigid
• wrinkles
• spots and legions

Question 17

What are normal aging related changes in the head and neck?

Answer 17

• more pronounced facial features
• asymmetrical facial features
• vocal changes
• visual acuity decrease (ie presbyopia)
• subtle auditory changes (ie presbycusis)
• reduced salivary secretion
• reduced taste

Question 18

Whatare normal aging related changes in the thorax and lungs?

Answer 18

• decreased respiratory muscle strength
• anteroposterior diameter of thorax increases
• vertebral changes (ie kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis)
• calcification of costal cartilage

Question 19

What are normal aging related changes in the heart and vascular system?

Answer 19

• decreased contractile strength of myocardium (decreased CO)
• weaker peripheral pulses

Question 20

What are normal aging related changes in the breasts?

Answer 20

• milk ducts are replaced by fat making breasts less firm

- decreased muscle mass/tone/elasticity result is smaller breasts.

Question 21

What are normal aging related changes in the GI system and abdomen?

Answer 21

• increased fatty tissue in the trunk
• decreased peristalsis
• altered secretions
• delayed gastric emptying

Question 22

What are normal aging related changes in the reproductive system?

Answer 22

• female menopause

- less frequent sexual activity related to illness, death of partner or decreased socialization

Question 23

What are normal aging related changes in the urinary system?

Answer 23

• hypertrophy of prostate

- urinary incontinence related to other health issues (abnormal but common)

Question 24

What are normal aging related changes in the musculoskeletal system?

Answer 24

• muscle fibers become smaller
• decreased muscle strength
• decreased bone density and bone mass

Question 25

What are normal aging related changes in the neurological system?

Answer 25

- decrease in number/size of neurons - change in neurotransmitters - slower voluntary reflexes - alterations in sleep quality and quantity

Question 26

What are the three common cognitive changes in older adults? (table 14-2)

Answer 26

Delirium (potentially reversible) Dementia (not reversible) Depression

Question 27

What is the term for an acute confusional state?

Answer 27

Delirium

Question 28

What is the term for a generalized impairment of intellectual functioning that interferes with social and occupational functioning?

Answer 28

Dementia

Question 29

Dementia is an umbrella term for which conditions? (4)

Answer 29

- Alzheimer's disease - Lewy body disease - frontal temporal dementia - vascular dementia

Question 30

What are 4 common psychosocial changes that older adults experience?

Answer 30

- retirement - social isolation - sexuality - housing & environment - death

Question 31

Which therapeutic tool provides sensory stimulation, induces relaxation, provides physical and emotional comfort, orients the person to reality, shows warmth, and communicates interest?

Answer 31

touch

Question 32

Which communication technique is used to make an adult more aware of time, place and person?

Answer 32

reality orientation

Question 33

Which communication technique is an alternative approach that accepts the description of time and place as stated by the confused older adult?

Answer 33

validation therapy

Question 34

Which communication technique uses the recollection of the past to bring meaning and understanding to the present and resolve current conflicts?

Answer 34

reminiscence

Question 35

What is the term for the concurrent use of many medications that increases the risk for adverse drug effects, inappropriate use of medications, and falls in older adults?

Answer 35

polypharmacy

Question 36

What risks do acute care settings pose to older adults?

Answer 36

- delirium - dehydration - malnutrition - HAIs - falls

Question 37

What is the term for fear of falling?

Answer 37

fallophobia

Question 38

What is presbyopia?

Answer 38

farsightedness that worsens with aging

Question 39

How is absorption effected by old age?

Answer 39

- increased gastric pH - decreased gastric blood flow - decreased gastric motility note: no major absorption difficulties

Question 40

How is distribution effected by old age?

Answer 40

- smaller amounts of total body water - increased ratio of adipose tissue to lean body mass (increased storage of lipid-soluble drugs) - decreased CO

Question 41

How is metabolism effected by old age?

Answer 41

- decreased liver size - decreased liver blood flow - decreased serum liver enzyme activity note: result in increased plasma concentration of a drug

Question 42

How is excretion effected by old age?

Answer 42

- decreased renal blood flow - reduced GFR note: result in decreased CrCl, thus slower excretion time for medications. Leads to toxic serum drug levels.

Question 43

What are the 3 common reasons for adverse effects when patient's self-administer drugs?

Answer 43

1. Forget to take drug 2. Poor communication with health care professionals 3. Varying ways patients take meds (including adding OTC and supplements)