Lecture #4

Question 1

Vulnerability: Physical

Answer 1

Increasing vulnerability to environmental risks and mistreatment by others as older adults become less physically or cognitively able to cope or recognize real or potential hazards

Question 2

Vulnerability: Crime

Answer 2

Violent
Family
Stranger
More susceptible
Live alone
Memory impairments
Loneliness

Question 3

Vulnerability: Fraud

Answer 3

-Do not recognize fraud by 
Phone callers
Theft
Ppl claim to have been sent to repair medical equipment
Take med equipment and never return
Overbilling by medical providers
Sociopaths in their religious congregations
‘Sob story’ – take \$\$$ - disappear
Family members or even caregivers
Think: A&O x4 (can they reason well?)

Question 4

Vulnerability: Environmental

Answer 4

-Neurosensory changes
-Diminished / delayed perception
-Physiological changes
-Impaired cooling / warming response
-Medications
-Alcohol impairs vasomotor response and neuromuscular activity, suppresses heat generation and dulls awareness of surroundings
-We have to be aware of temperature in room
-Comfortable for the older adult (not just you)?
• Touch skin
• Talk to them
• Watch for signs of hyperthermia

Question 5

Vulnerability: Temperature

Answer 5

-Caretakers
Economics
Can they afford to turn the heat / A/C up?
-Fever: a one-degree change from baseline may be significant in older adults
-They may have a lower baseline
• If baseline 98 -> 99 is a problem!!!