Psychosocial Issues

Question 1

What are the 4 psychosocial topics that are important in the geriatric population?

Answer 1

legal and financial
safety
wellness
sensitive subjects

Question 2

What is included in the legal and financial issues for the geriatric populaiton?

Answer 2

Competency (Medical and Legal)
Conflict of interest
Agents for the incompetent

Question 3

What type of competence, medical or legal, has a higher threshold?

Answer 3

Legal

Question 4

What is medical competence determined by?

Answer 4

Knowledge from medical providers
Understanding, reasoning, appreciation, voluntary
Ability to make a choice

Question 5

Conflict of interest, in terms of legal and financial psychosocial topics, states that a pt who is making bad decisions (must be/do not have to be) deemed incompetent

Answer 5

Pts can make bad decisions and still be competent

Question 6

What are POA and HCPOA?

Answer 6

Power of attorney

Health care power of attorney

Question 7

____% of people >65 y/o drink daily

Answer 7

> 50%

Question 8

Prevalence of alcohol abuse in community dwelling elderly ___-___%

Answer 8

~3-4%

Question 9

More elderly males or elderly females use alcohol?

Answer 9

males

Question 10

___-___% cases of dementia related to EtOH

Answer 10

5-10%

Question 11

___-___% may experience health risks due to EtOH

Answer 11

15-20%

Question 12

What are potential ADRs of EtOH in the elderly?

Answer 12

Falls, Medication issues, Cognitive issues, Sleep issues, Dehydration, Depression

Question 13

What are the 5 levels of living situations for the elderly during their transition of care?

Answer 13

Home → Group home → Independent living → Assisted living → Skilled nursing facility

Question 14

What is an Advanced Directive?

Answer 14

Legal Document that delineates kinds of tx wanted under various circumstances

Question 15

What are the different kinds of Advanced Directive?

Answer 15

Living will, Durable Power of Attorney, Five Wishes, DNR, MOST

Question 16

What aspect about the elderly population makes them more of a target for crime?

Answer 16

Frailty

Question 17

What are the different types of elder abuse?

Answer 17

neglect, emotional/psychological, financial, physical, abandonment

Question 18

What are the risk factors for elder abuse? (x8)

Answer 18

Frail, female, white
Severe cognitive or physical impairments
Dependent on caregiver for most daily needs
Exhibits problematic behavior
Isolated 
Stress of caregiver

Question 19

What are some examples of red flags of elder abuse? (x7)

Answer 19

Unexplained physical trauma
Absence of needed materials or medicine
Over or underuse of medications
Signs of physical restraints
Repeated genital infections
Skin breakdown, evidence of malnutrition
Stress of Caregiver

Question 20

50% of the time, the abuser of an elderly pt is who?
20% of the time, the abuser of an elderly pt is who?
9% of the time, the abuser of an elderly pt is who?

Answer 20

50%: adult child living in same home, usually financially dependent
20% spousal
9% other relatives

Question 21

If you suspect an elderly pt is experiencing abuse, what should you do?

Answer 21

Report it!

Question 22

In order to avoid falls and fx in the elderly, ___ and ___ should be performed, and can use ___ and ___ to assist.

Answer 22

gait evaluations and home assessments

PT and OT

Question 23

T/F Insurance companies will offer discounts to elderly pts who go and take a driving evaluation/test

Answer 23

True