GERONTOLOGY FINAL EXAM |
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS|
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Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,What are respiratory changes in geriatric patients? - ↓ Vital capacity
- ↓ Endurance
- ↓ Ability to fight off respiratory infection
- Efficiency of alveolar gas exchange decreases progressively with age
What are gastrointestinal changes in geriatric patients? - ↓ Food sensations
- ↓ Gastric pH
- Loss or decay of teeth
What are genitourinary changes in geriatric patients? - Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Incontinence (females)
What are head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat changes in - ↓ Visual and hearing acuity
geriatric patients? - ↓ In taste and smell
What are skin changes in geriatric patients? - Balding
- Skin pigmentation
- Moles
- ↓ In subcutaneous tissue
- ↓ Elasticity
What is a functional assessment? The measurement of a person's ability to fulfill responsibilities and perform self-
care tasks (how independent an individual can be)
What are the parts of Medicare? - Part A (Hospital Insurance)
- Part B (Supplemental Insurance)
- Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)
- Part D
What is Part A of Medicare? Covers acute care in hospital, skilled care in a licensed facility, home health care
and hospice care
What is Part B of Medicare? Patient care from physicians (specialists) or advanced practice nurses (nurse
practitioners)
What is Part C of Medicare? HMO requires authorization from primary physician to see a specialist
What is Part D of Medicare? Covers medication
What is a functional status of older adult indicator of? Health and illness
How may some functional decline be prevented? Prompt and aggressive nursing interventions
,What is functional status of older adults influenced by? Physiological age changes, acute and chronic illnesses
What is one of the most common manifestations of illness Change in behavior or mental condition
or an adverse medication effect?
What is a functional status contingent on? Cognition and sensory capacity including vision and hearing
How do older adults view their health? How well they can function rather than in terms of disease alone
Why should function be assessed over time? Validate capacity, decline, or progress
What is a predictor of mortality in the elderly? - Functional status
- Dependency in function status is the single best predictor of in-hospital
mortality
What are hospital considerations for older adults? - 20-40% of older adults experience functional decline during hospitalization
- Return to the older adult's previous level of functioning will take 2-3 times longer
for the older adult than that of an younger adult with the same illness
What is the goal of assessment and intervention in a The goal fits the cure mode
young person?
What is the goal of assessment and intervention in an The goal is maximization of functional abilities
older person?
What determines the elder's quality of life? Ability to perform function independently
What determines the current needs of care/support and Functional assessment
setting appropriate goals?
What should data be used for? Document both the elder's baseline and current levels of functioning as the nurse
develops a plan for achieving realistic functional goals
What are familial considerations for elders? - Family members over estimate an older person's ability
- The further away, distance wise, the family is from the elder, the more
independent the elder is seen
, What is the best assessment? Direct observation
If you are unable to observe what is the next best means - Asking specific questions about HOW tasks are performed rather than yes/no
of assessment? questions
- Ask "Tell me, from the very beginning, how you take your shower."
- After determining what tasks are performed and how they are presently
performed by the elder, then ask whether the task is meaningful to the elder
Why is an assessment of the enviorment important? Essential not only for identifying fall risks but also for addressing environmental
factors that positively and negatively affect overall function
When doing an observational assessment what should All needed assistive devices (adaptive and mobility) available and, if necessary, in
the older adult have? place
How does a patient use a cane? - Right knee injury: hold cane with left hand
- Left knee injury: hold cane with right hand
- Going up the stairs: start with good leg first
- Going down the stairs: start with bad leg first
What should an assessment include? An evaluation if the older person utilizes the mobility aids and adaptive
equipment correctly
What are the goals of a functional assessment? - Prevent disability through early identification of functional loss
- Develop treatment plan that enhances functional performance
- Ensure that care addresses issues most likely to maximize elder's quality of life
- Improve compliance by focusing on problems the elder feels most limiting
- Determine efficacy of treatment modes by measuring changes in functional
performance over time
What do activities of daily living determine? Level of assistance needed daily
What does it mean if the older adult needs assistance in The elder will need 24 hour support
one of more area of activities of daily living?
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS|
GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,What are respiratory changes in geriatric patients? - ↓ Vital capacity
- ↓ Endurance
- ↓ Ability to fight off respiratory infection
- Efficiency of alveolar gas exchange decreases progressively with age
What are gastrointestinal changes in geriatric patients? - ↓ Food sensations
- ↓ Gastric pH
- Loss or decay of teeth
What are genitourinary changes in geriatric patients? - Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Incontinence (females)
What are head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat changes in - ↓ Visual and hearing acuity
geriatric patients? - ↓ In taste and smell
What are skin changes in geriatric patients? - Balding
- Skin pigmentation
- Moles
- ↓ In subcutaneous tissue
- ↓ Elasticity
What is a functional assessment? The measurement of a person's ability to fulfill responsibilities and perform self-
care tasks (how independent an individual can be)
What are the parts of Medicare? - Part A (Hospital Insurance)
- Part B (Supplemental Insurance)
- Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)
- Part D
What is Part A of Medicare? Covers acute care in hospital, skilled care in a licensed facility, home health care
and hospice care
What is Part B of Medicare? Patient care from physicians (specialists) or advanced practice nurses (nurse
practitioners)
What is Part C of Medicare? HMO requires authorization from primary physician to see a specialist
What is Part D of Medicare? Covers medication
What is a functional status of older adult indicator of? Health and illness
How may some functional decline be prevented? Prompt and aggressive nursing interventions
,What is functional status of older adults influenced by? Physiological age changes, acute and chronic illnesses
What is one of the most common manifestations of illness Change in behavior or mental condition
or an adverse medication effect?
What is a functional status contingent on? Cognition and sensory capacity including vision and hearing
How do older adults view their health? How well they can function rather than in terms of disease alone
Why should function be assessed over time? Validate capacity, decline, or progress
What is a predictor of mortality in the elderly? - Functional status
- Dependency in function status is the single best predictor of in-hospital
mortality
What are hospital considerations for older adults? - 20-40% of older adults experience functional decline during hospitalization
- Return to the older adult's previous level of functioning will take 2-3 times longer
for the older adult than that of an younger adult with the same illness
What is the goal of assessment and intervention in a The goal fits the cure mode
young person?
What is the goal of assessment and intervention in an The goal is maximization of functional abilities
older person?
What determines the elder's quality of life? Ability to perform function independently
What determines the current needs of care/support and Functional assessment
setting appropriate goals?
What should data be used for? Document both the elder's baseline and current levels of functioning as the nurse
develops a plan for achieving realistic functional goals
What are familial considerations for elders? - Family members over estimate an older person's ability
- The further away, distance wise, the family is from the elder, the more
independent the elder is seen
, What is the best assessment? Direct observation
If you are unable to observe what is the next best means - Asking specific questions about HOW tasks are performed rather than yes/no
of assessment? questions
- Ask "Tell me, from the very beginning, how you take your shower."
- After determining what tasks are performed and how they are presently
performed by the elder, then ask whether the task is meaningful to the elder
Why is an assessment of the enviorment important? Essential not only for identifying fall risks but also for addressing environmental
factors that positively and negatively affect overall function
When doing an observational assessment what should All needed assistive devices (adaptive and mobility) available and, if necessary, in
the older adult have? place
How does a patient use a cane? - Right knee injury: hold cane with left hand
- Left knee injury: hold cane with right hand
- Going up the stairs: start with good leg first
- Going down the stairs: start with bad leg first
What should an assessment include? An evaluation if the older person utilizes the mobility aids and adaptive
equipment correctly
What are the goals of a functional assessment? - Prevent disability through early identification of functional loss
- Develop treatment plan that enhances functional performance
- Ensure that care addresses issues most likely to maximize elder's quality of life
- Improve compliance by focusing on problems the elder feels most limiting
- Determine efficacy of treatment modes by measuring changes in functional
performance over time
What do activities of daily living determine? Level of assistance needed daily
What does it mean if the older adult needs assistance in The elder will need 24 hour support
one of more area of activities of daily living?
