Older Adults

Question 1

What age does old age begin at?

Answer 1

65

Question 2

Factors that increase the risk of incontinence

Answer 2

Age, diabetes, hysterectomy, stroke, obesity, menopause

Question 3

What should you look for in a nursing home?

Answer 3

Medicaid/Medicare certified, feels like a house, good food, qualified stage and care, family visiting and presence is encouraged

Question 4

What defines the quality of life for older adults?

Answer 4

Perception of well-being

Question 5

What do you want to do first during initial nurse-patient encounter?

Answer 5

Quick head to toe and note signs of aging, their attention towards you, gait and mobility

Question 6

Acute care

Answer 6

Hospital setting; pay attention to skin integrity, nutrition and hydrations, skin integrity, basic needs and comfort

Question 7

Common complications in acute care

Answer 7

Delirium, physical limitations, incontinence, UTI, HAIs, falls

Question 8

Nursing care for delirium

Answer 8

Encourage visitors, provide memory cues, orient them

Question 9

Restorative care

Answer 9

Recovery from acute illness or support for a chronic condition; private home and LTC; regain or increase prior level of independence, ADLs, and IADLs

Question 10

Health concerns for older age

Answer 10

Heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, stroke, smoking, alcohol abuse, nutrition, dental problems, exercise, falls, sensory impairment, pain, medicine use

Question 11

Factors affecting nutrition

Answer 11

Tradition, meds, culture, preference, religion, situation—proximity to food, chronic illness—incontinence

Question 12

Nutritional recommendations for older adults

Answer 12

Inc intake of D, B12, E, folate, fiber, calcium, increase fluid, dec Na, fat, sugar, and alcohol

Question 13

Intrinsic risk factors for falls

Answer 13

History, fear, weakness, vision, hypotension, balance, med reactions, chronic conditions

Question 14

Extrinsic factors increasing falls risk

Answer 14

Poor light, lack handrails, poor stairwell, grab bars, hazards, slippery, poor shoes

Question 15

Is pain a normal part of aging?

Answer 15

NO

Question 16

Polypharmacy and what to do about it

Answer 16

Use of multiple meds by the pt which can lead to interactions; need to perform a med reconciliation; treat non pharmacologically first

Question 17

Illness indicators

Answer 17

AMS, falls, dehydration, Dec appetite, loss of function, dizzy, incontinent, NEW ONSET, lose physiologic and functional ability, fever, confusion, incontinence, anxious

Question 18

Presentation of illness in the hospital

Answer 18

Confusion, chronic dehydration, infection

Question 19

Presentation of illness in the nursing home

Answer 19

Under treatment of pain, decrease function, drug toxicity, new urinary or fecal incontinence

Question 20

Presentation of illness in the ambulatory pt

Answer 20

Inc fatigue, Dec ability to do things, change in bowel habits, confusion and inc dyspnea, depression

Question 21

Presentation of illness in home care

Answer 21

Investigate falls, loss of appetite (indicates late-stage heart disease), drug-drug interactions

Question 22

Elder mistreatment

Answer 22

Intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates risk for harm to elderly

Question 23

Validation therapy

Answer 23

Validate feelings and slight disorientation; can reminisce

Question 24

Psychosocial tx

Answer 24

Body image interventions with loss of sensation; help with hygiene, touch, therapeutic communication

Question 25

How to teach old people

Answer 25

Wait for them to not be anxious or in pain, 1 idea at a time, Dec distractions, teach back, allow extra time to process

Question 26

Hearing deficit techniques

Answer 26

Good lighting, speak clear and loud, get attention, Dec background noise, repeat

Question 27

Presbycusis

Answer 27

Hearing loss caused by aging

Question 28

presbyopia

Answer 28

loss of nearsightedness caused by aging

Question 29

Is talk of death normal for older people?

Answer 29

No

Question 30

Is poor judgment normal in older people?

Answer 30

No

Question 31

Factors that contribute to osteoporosis

Answer 31

Post menopause, poor nutrition, Dec mobility

Question 32

Risk factors for incontinence

Answer 32

Age, menopause, DM, hysterectomy, stroke, obese