,NUR 257 Exam 2 Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which assessment approach is most appropriate when
evaluating an older adult?
A) Assume age-related changes explain every abnormal finding
B) Compare findings with the individual's baseline and current health status
C) Focus only on the client's chief complaint
D) Avoid asking about functional ability
Correct Answer: B) Compare findings with the individual's baseline and
current health status
Rationale: Older adults have substantial individual variation, so assessment
should distinguish expected aging changes from illness by considering
baseline function and current findings.
Q2. Which information is part of a comprehensive health history?
A) Only the current diagnosis
B) Current medications, medical history, functional status, and relevant
social history
C) Only laboratory results
D) Only the client's surgical history
Correct Answer: B) Current medications, medical history, functional status,
and relevant social history
Rationale: A comprehensive health history includes medical conditions,
medications, functional abilities, social circumstances, health behaviors, and
other factors affecting health.
Q3. Which question best assesses an older adult's functional status?
A) "What is your favorite food?"
B) "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C) "What television programs do you watch?"
D) "What was your previous occupation?"
Correct Answer: B) "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals
independently?"
Rationale: Functional assessment determines the person's ability to perform
activities necessary for independent living.
Q4. Which activities are considered basic activities of daily living?
A) Managing investments and transportation
, B) Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
C) Shopping and managing finances only
D) Using a computer and telephone
Correct Answer: B) Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
Rationale: Basic activities of daily living include fundamental self-care tasks
such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating.
Q5. Which activity is an instrumental activity of daily living?
A) Eating
B) Bathing
C) Managing medications
D) Toileting
Correct Answer: C) Managing medications
Rationale: Instrumental activities involve more complex tasks needed for
independent community living, including medication management, finances,
shopping, and transportation.
Q6. An older adult can bathe and dress independently but cannot
manage medications or finances. How should the nurse interpret
this finding?
A) The client is completely dependent
B) Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired
C) The client has no functional limitations
D) The client necessarily has dementia
Correct Answer: B) Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired
Rationale: IADL impairment can occur before basic self-care abilities are lost
and does not by itself establish a diagnosis of dementia.
Q7. Which finding requires further assessment rather than being
automatically attributed to normal aging?
A) Mildly slower movement
B) Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
C) Gray hair
D) Decreased skin elasticity
Correct Answer: B) Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
Rationale: Progressive functional decline may indicate illness or cognitive
impairment and warrants further assessment.
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which assessment approach is most appropriate when
evaluating an older adult?
A) Assume age-related changes explain every abnormal finding
B) Compare findings with the individual's baseline and current health status
C) Focus only on the client's chief complaint
D) Avoid asking about functional ability
Correct Answer: B) Compare findings with the individual's baseline and
current health status
Rationale: Older adults have substantial individual variation, so assessment
should distinguish expected aging changes from illness by considering
baseline function and current findings.
Q2. Which information is part of a comprehensive health history?
A) Only the current diagnosis
B) Current medications, medical history, functional status, and relevant
social history
C) Only laboratory results
D) Only the client's surgical history
Correct Answer: B) Current medications, medical history, functional status,
and relevant social history
Rationale: A comprehensive health history includes medical conditions,
medications, functional abilities, social circumstances, health behaviors, and
other factors affecting health.
Q3. Which question best assesses an older adult's functional status?
A) "What is your favorite food?"
B) "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C) "What television programs do you watch?"
D) "What was your previous occupation?"
Correct Answer: B) "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals
independently?"
Rationale: Functional assessment determines the person's ability to perform
activities necessary for independent living.
Q4. Which activities are considered basic activities of daily living?
A) Managing investments and transportation
, B) Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
C) Shopping and managing finances only
D) Using a computer and telephone
Correct Answer: B) Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
Rationale: Basic activities of daily living include fundamental self-care tasks
such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating.
Q5. Which activity is an instrumental activity of daily living?
A) Eating
B) Bathing
C) Managing medications
D) Toileting
Correct Answer: C) Managing medications
Rationale: Instrumental activities involve more complex tasks needed for
independent community living, including medication management, finances,
shopping, and transportation.
Q6. An older adult can bathe and dress independently but cannot
manage medications or finances. How should the nurse interpret
this finding?
A) The client is completely dependent
B) Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired
C) The client has no functional limitations
D) The client necessarily has dementia
Correct Answer: B) Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired
Rationale: IADL impairment can occur before basic self-care abilities are lost
and does not by itself establish a diagnosis of dementia.
Q7. Which finding requires further assessment rather than being
automatically attributed to normal aging?
A) Mildly slower movement
B) Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
C) Gray hair
D) Decreased skin elasticity
Correct Answer: B) Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
Rationale: Progressive functional decline may indicate illness or cognitive
impairment and warrants further assessment.
