PT assessment of older adult Flashcards
1
Q
What are reasons for modifying examinations of older adults?
A
- Impaired hearing (face them, speak clearly)
- Impaired sight (large print)
- Impaired comprehension (may act like they understand)
- Impaired mobility (need more time to move)
2
Q
What do you look for when you observe an older adult?
A
- Personal appearance and grooming
- cleanliness
- Appropriateness of clothing
- condition of hair and skin
- Dental hygiene
- Dressing/undressing
- Transfer sit⇔stand
- Gait
- OA vs. RA
3
Q
What gait changes occur with aging?
A
- Decreased velocity
- Increased cadence
- Increased double-support
- decreased step length
- Instability
- Wider BOS
- Step width variability
4
Q
What contributes to instability?
A
decreased hip extensor, DF and PF strength; decreased DF ROM
5
Q
What is the primary contributor to falls in elderly?
A
step width variability
6
Q
What are factors of social/emotional changes in older adults?
A
- Losses/changes (spouse, pet, friends, home, health, independence)
- Abuse (multiple injuries in different stages of inflammation, unexplained injuries, explanations implausible)
- Neglect (malnutrition, dehydration, gross inattention to hygiene)
7
Q
Polypharamacy is what sequelae in the older population?
A
- Medication administration errors from following a more complex regimen
- Increase risk for adverse drug reaction
- Non-adherence
- increase mortality rate
8
Q
What is the responsiblilty of the PT?
A
- Comprehensively assess for polypharmacy
- ‘Brown bag’ technique (prescibed meds, over-the-counter, herbal, supplements)
- Report to MD
9
Q
What are the most commonly used functional tests and what are they for?
A
- TUG- General mobility
- PPT- Fraility, ADL
- BBS- Balance, risk, agility
- 4 Square step test- fall risk, agility
- 2, 3, 4 min walk- aerobic capacity/endurance
- 30 sec chair rise- strength
10
Q
What percentage of 80+y/0 inpatients had impairments across 6/13 dimensions of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale? 11/13?
A
60%; 36%
