Older Adult

Question 1

Age Period

Answer 1

65+

Fasting growing age group

Question 2

Physical Changes

Answer 2

-Important to differentiate
between normal age-
related changes from
pathological changes
-Health typically
deteriorates through an
accumulation of chronic
disorders and disabilities

-Sensory changes: Vision,
smell, taste (loss of taste
buds), touch
-Presbyopia
-Cataracts
-Glaucoma
-Presbycusis
-Skin becomes thinner,
less elastic, wrinkled, and
more fragile; watch for
decubitus ulcers
-Periodontal problems
prevail

Question 3

Cognitive Changes

Answer 3

-Cognitive changes not a
normal change of aging
-Some may have a mild
cognitive impairment
-Dementia
-Alzheimer's disease

Question 4

Nutrition Metabolic Pattern

Answer 4

-Make sure have access to
food and transportation,
income, and social support
are not a problem
-Changes in absorption
and elimination of
nutrients
-Deterioration of smell,
vision, taste and high
frequency of dental and
swallowing problems can
make eating difficult
-Watch for anorexia
because of med SF or

Question 5

Elimination Pattern

Answer 5

Constipation major
problem (watch meds,
diet, fluid intake, lack of
activity)

Question 6

Activity exercise Pattern

Answer 6

-Combo of aerobic
exercise and muscle-
strength training
-Focus on; maintaining
strength, flexibility, and
balance

Question 7

Sleep Rest Pattern

Answer 7

-Inability to sleep is a
frequent problem
-More likely to experience
insomnia, sleep apnea,
inability to fall asleep,
inability to stay asleep,
inability to fall back to
sleep once waking at
night, or not feeling
refreshed upon waking
-Excessive sleepiness can
be a problem
-Napping okay, but not
excessive napping

Question 8

Psychosocial Changes

Answer 8

Erikson: Ego Integrity vs Despair

Review of life and integrity is satisfaction with life after review. Despair is sense of life failure or life regret.

Question 9

Sexuality Reproductive Pattern

Answer 9

-Do not lose interest in SEx
-Chronic medical
conditions and normal
changes of aging can make
intimacy more difficult
Teach about STI
prevention

Question 10

Coping Stress Tolerance Pattern

Answer 10

• Spirituality has an impact and has a strong relationship with ability to cope
• Depression can occur; need to screen; good tool = GDS
• Suicide can occur; three most common ways: firearms, overdose, and suffocation. Risk factors: Social isolation, alcohol and substance abuse, psychosis, bereavement, serious medical illnesses

Question 11

Health risks/concerns

Answer 11

• Accidents (falls)
• Be cautious with pharmacodynamics in OA
• Alcohol abuse
• Tobacco use

Question 12

Health promotion and Prevention Care

Answer 12

• Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death
• New HP2020 topics added: Dementias, Alzheimer’s Disease, Health-related QoL, Healthcare-Associated infections, Sleep Health, and OA
• Exercise, maintain healthy weight, stay active, practice fall prevention, maintain relationships, keep regular medical appointments
• SCREEN depression
• Smoking cessation
• Sexual safety
• Encourage volunteering
• Monitor for polypharmacy

Question 13

Nursing Application

Answer 13

• Counsel on basics: diet, exercise, nutrition
• Fall risk prevention
• Fire safety
• Counsel on when to stop driving
• HRA
• screening tools
• Reminiscence