Care of the Older Adult Test
Bank — 250 Practice
Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026-2027
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf.
1. Which age-related change is expected in a healthy older adult?
A. Increased total body water
B. Increased renal blood flow
C. Decreased skin elasticity
D. Increased lung elasticity
Answer: C. Decreased skin elasticity
Rationale: Aging commonly causes loss of collagen and elastin,
resulting in thinner, less elastic skin. Total body water, renal blood
flow, and lung elasticity generally decrease with aging.
2. Which finding is most concerning when assessing an older adult?
A. Gray hair
B. Presbyopia
C. New-onset confusion
D. Decreased skin turgor
Answer: C. New-onset confusion
,Rationale: Acute confusion in an older adult may indicate delirium
caused by infection, medication effects, metabolic abnormalities,
dehydration, or another acute illness and requires prompt evaluation.
3. An older adult reports difficulty hearing conversations in a
crowded restaurant. Which condition is most likely?
A. Presbyopia
B. Presbycusis
C. Cataract
D. Tinnitus
Answer: B. Presbycusis
Rationale: Presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss, often
making high-frequency sounds and speech discrimination difficult,
particularly in noisy environments.
4. Which intervention best promotes communication with an older
adult who has hearing impairment?
A. Speak rapidly and loudly
B. Face the person while speaking
C. Use exaggerated facial expressions
D. Speak from another room
Answer: B. Face the person while speaking
Rationale: Facing the older adult allows use of visual cues and helps
the person see the speaker's facial movements. Shouting or speaking
from another room can reduce understanding.
5. Which visual change is commonly associated with aging?
,A. Improved near vision
B. Increased accommodation
C. Difficulty focusing on close objects
D. Increased pupil responsiveness
Answer: C. Difficulty focusing on close objects
Rationale: Presbyopia results from decreased lens elasticity and
reduced accommodation, making near vision more difficult.
6. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for an older adult
with decreased vision?
A. Keep frequently used objects in consistent locations
B. Rearrange furniture frequently
C. Dim all room lighting
D. Remove eyeglasses during meals
Answer: A. Keep frequently used objects in consistent locations
Rationale: Consistent placement of objects improves orientation and
reduces the risk of falls or injury in individuals with visual impairment.
7. Which age-related cardiovascular change is expected?
A. Increased cardiac reserve
B. Increased arterial elasticity
C. Decreased arterial compliance
D. Increased maximum heart rate
Answer: C. Decreased arterial compliance
Rationale: Arteries become less elastic with aging, contributing to
increased vascular resistance and systolic blood pressure.
, 8. Which finding requires the nurse's priority attention in an older
adult?
A. Heart rate of 68/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. New systolic blood pressure of 190 mm Hg
D. Gray hair
Answer: C. New systolic blood pressure of 190 mm Hg
Rationale: Markedly elevated blood pressure requires prompt
assessment, especially when it represents a new change from
baseline.
9. Why are older adults at increased risk for dehydration?
A. Increased thirst sensation
B. Increased total body water
C. Reduced renal concentrating ability
D. Increased muscle mass
Answer: C. Reduced renal concentrating ability
Rationale: Aging reduces renal concentrating ability and total body
water, increasing vulnerability to dehydration.
10. Which finding may indicate dehydration in an older adult?
A. Clear urine every hour
B. Sudden weight loss
C. Increased urine output
D. Moist mucous membranes
Answer: B. Sudden weight loss
Rationale: Acute weight loss may reflect fluid loss. Older adults may
not exhibit classic signs such as markedly decreased skin turgor.
Bank — 250 Practice
Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026-2027
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf.
1. Which age-related change is expected in a healthy older adult?
A. Increased total body water
B. Increased renal blood flow
C. Decreased skin elasticity
D. Increased lung elasticity
Answer: C. Decreased skin elasticity
Rationale: Aging commonly causes loss of collagen and elastin,
resulting in thinner, less elastic skin. Total body water, renal blood
flow, and lung elasticity generally decrease with aging.
2. Which finding is most concerning when assessing an older adult?
A. Gray hair
B. Presbyopia
C. New-onset confusion
D. Decreased skin turgor
Answer: C. New-onset confusion
,Rationale: Acute confusion in an older adult may indicate delirium
caused by infection, medication effects, metabolic abnormalities,
dehydration, or another acute illness and requires prompt evaluation.
3. An older adult reports difficulty hearing conversations in a
crowded restaurant. Which condition is most likely?
A. Presbyopia
B. Presbycusis
C. Cataract
D. Tinnitus
Answer: B. Presbycusis
Rationale: Presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss, often
making high-frequency sounds and speech discrimination difficult,
particularly in noisy environments.
4. Which intervention best promotes communication with an older
adult who has hearing impairment?
A. Speak rapidly and loudly
B. Face the person while speaking
C. Use exaggerated facial expressions
D. Speak from another room
Answer: B. Face the person while speaking
Rationale: Facing the older adult allows use of visual cues and helps
the person see the speaker's facial movements. Shouting or speaking
from another room can reduce understanding.
5. Which visual change is commonly associated with aging?
,A. Improved near vision
B. Increased accommodation
C. Difficulty focusing on close objects
D. Increased pupil responsiveness
Answer: C. Difficulty focusing on close objects
Rationale: Presbyopia results from decreased lens elasticity and
reduced accommodation, making near vision more difficult.
6. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for an older adult
with decreased vision?
A. Keep frequently used objects in consistent locations
B. Rearrange furniture frequently
C. Dim all room lighting
D. Remove eyeglasses during meals
Answer: A. Keep frequently used objects in consistent locations
Rationale: Consistent placement of objects improves orientation and
reduces the risk of falls or injury in individuals with visual impairment.
7. Which age-related cardiovascular change is expected?
A. Increased cardiac reserve
B. Increased arterial elasticity
C. Decreased arterial compliance
D. Increased maximum heart rate
Answer: C. Decreased arterial compliance
Rationale: Arteries become less elastic with aging, contributing to
increased vascular resistance and systolic blood pressure.
, 8. Which finding requires the nurse's priority attention in an older
adult?
A. Heart rate of 68/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. New systolic blood pressure of 190 mm Hg
D. Gray hair
Answer: C. New systolic blood pressure of 190 mm Hg
Rationale: Markedly elevated blood pressure requires prompt
assessment, especially when it represents a new change from
baseline.
9. Why are older adults at increased risk for dehydration?
A. Increased thirst sensation
B. Increased total body water
C. Reduced renal concentrating ability
D. Increased muscle mass
Answer: C. Reduced renal concentrating ability
Rationale: Aging reduces renal concentrating ability and total body
water, increasing vulnerability to dehydration.
10. Which finding may indicate dehydration in an older adult?
A. Clear urine every hour
B. Sudden weight loss
C. Increased urine output
D. Moist mucous membranes
Answer: B. Sudden weight loss
Rationale: Acute weight loss may reflect fluid loss. Older adults may
not exhibit classic signs such as markedly decreased skin turgor.
