314 EXAM 3 CARE OF THE OLDER ADULT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 314 EXAM 3 CARE OF
THE OLDER ADULT STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE
TEST 2026/2027
myths and stereotypes of older adults - correct answer ✔✔ill, disabled, unattractive, forgetful, confused,
rigid, boring, unfriendly, unable to learn and understand new information, not interested in sex
ageism - correct answer ✔✔myths and stereotypes surrounding elder adults, discrimination against
people because of increasing age
nurses' attitudes toward older adults - correct answer ✔✔comes from personal experience, education,
employment experiences, attitudes of co-workers and employing institutions
respect, dignity, involvement in care decision and activities - correct answer ✔✔nurses need to gain
knowledge about aging and health care needs of older adults in terms of these characteristics
gerontology - correct answer ✔✔study of agin process
gerontological nursing - correct answer ✔✔caring for the aging adult (65-74 = young old, 75-84 = middle
old, 85-99 = old old, 100 years or older = elite old
85-99 = old old - correct answer ✔✔the current fastest growing subgroup of old age
Maturity (65-death) Ego integrity vs. despair - correct answer ✔✔erikson's developmental task for older
adults
looking back on life and feeling a sense of fulfillment, success = wisdom, failure = regret and despair -
correct answer ✔✔maturity ego integrity vs. despair (65-death)
developmental tasks for older adults - correct answer ✔✔decreasing health and physical strength,
retirement and fixed income, death of a spouse/child/sibling/friend, adjustment to self as an aging
person, maintaining satisfactory living arrangements, redefining relationships, maintaining quality of life
community-based and institutional health care services - correct answer ✔✔private homes, apartments,
retirement communities, assisted-living facilities, nursing centers, homeless shelters/the streets
assessment of the older adult - correct answer ✔✔readiness to learn, in pain, wearing glasses/hearing
aids, speak slowly and in normal tone of voice, sit facing patient in good lighting, enunciate, present one
idea at a time, give time for response, decrease environmental distractions, use audio/visual/tactile cues
, decrease in muscle strength/ number of alveoli/cough reflex, increased AP diameter, wall rigidity, risk of
infection - correct answer ✔✔physiological changes (respiratory)
increased systolic BP, thicker vessels/narrowing lumens, decreased contractile strength and calcification
of valves, decreased CO and peripheral circulation - correct answer ✔✔cardiovascular physiological
changes
periodontal disease, hemorrhoids, fissures, decreased saliva and GI peristalsis - correct answer ✔✔GI
physiological changes
decreased rate of impulses and neurotransmitters, slowed cranial nerve responses, decreased
proprioception - correct answer ✔✔neurological physiological changes
decreased elasticity and subcutaneous fat, pigmentation changes, sebaceous gland decline, decreased
oils/dryness, decreased facial hair in men, increased facial hair in women - correct answer
✔✔integumentary physiological changes
decreased accommodation, slowed response to light/dark changes, yellowing lens, altered color
perception, smaller pupils, increased sensitivity to glare - correct answer ✔✔sensory/eyes physiological
changes
decreased acuity for high frequencies, thickened tympanic membrane, sclerosis of inner ear, increased
wax - correct answer ✔✔sensory/ear physiological changes
diminished taste, smell, touch - correct answer ✔✔sensory taste/smell/touch physiological changes
decreased number of nephrons/ bladder capacity/sphincter tone, increased size of prostate - correct
answer ✔✔kidney physiological changes
decreased muscle mass and calcium stores in bones, degenerative joint disease - correct answer ✔✔M/S
physiological changes
decreased sperm count/rapidity of erections/estrogen levels, atrophy of vagina/uterus/breasts, desires
do not decline but physical ability does - correct answer ✔✔reproductive physiological changes
decreased thyroid secretions/pancreatic secretions/stress response - correct answer ✔✔endocrine
physiological changes
decreased T-cell, decreased immunity - correct answer ✔✔immune physiological changes
delirium, dehydration, malnutrition, health care associated infections, urinary incontinence, skin
breakdown, falls - correct answer ✔✔main risks/challenges/problems presented in older adults
sleep deprivation, infections, dehydration, pain, sensory impairment, drug interactions, anesthesia,
hypoxia - correct answer ✔✔risks for problems in elderly are increased by these factors
delirium - correct answer ✔✔acute, confusion state, underlying medical condition is usually the cause,
REVERSIBLE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 314 EXAM 3 CARE OF
THE OLDER ADULT STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE
TEST 2026/2027
myths and stereotypes of older adults - correct answer ✔✔ill, disabled, unattractive, forgetful, confused,
rigid, boring, unfriendly, unable to learn and understand new information, not interested in sex
ageism - correct answer ✔✔myths and stereotypes surrounding elder adults, discrimination against
people because of increasing age
nurses' attitudes toward older adults - correct answer ✔✔comes from personal experience, education,
employment experiences, attitudes of co-workers and employing institutions
respect, dignity, involvement in care decision and activities - correct answer ✔✔nurses need to gain
knowledge about aging and health care needs of older adults in terms of these characteristics
gerontology - correct answer ✔✔study of agin process
gerontological nursing - correct answer ✔✔caring for the aging adult (65-74 = young old, 75-84 = middle
old, 85-99 = old old, 100 years or older = elite old
85-99 = old old - correct answer ✔✔the current fastest growing subgroup of old age
Maturity (65-death) Ego integrity vs. despair - correct answer ✔✔erikson's developmental task for older
adults
looking back on life and feeling a sense of fulfillment, success = wisdom, failure = regret and despair -
correct answer ✔✔maturity ego integrity vs. despair (65-death)
developmental tasks for older adults - correct answer ✔✔decreasing health and physical strength,
retirement and fixed income, death of a spouse/child/sibling/friend, adjustment to self as an aging
person, maintaining satisfactory living arrangements, redefining relationships, maintaining quality of life
community-based and institutional health care services - correct answer ✔✔private homes, apartments,
retirement communities, assisted-living facilities, nursing centers, homeless shelters/the streets
assessment of the older adult - correct answer ✔✔readiness to learn, in pain, wearing glasses/hearing
aids, speak slowly and in normal tone of voice, sit facing patient in good lighting, enunciate, present one
idea at a time, give time for response, decrease environmental distractions, use audio/visual/tactile cues
, decrease in muscle strength/ number of alveoli/cough reflex, increased AP diameter, wall rigidity, risk of
infection - correct answer ✔✔physiological changes (respiratory)
increased systolic BP, thicker vessels/narrowing lumens, decreased contractile strength and calcification
of valves, decreased CO and peripheral circulation - correct answer ✔✔cardiovascular physiological
changes
periodontal disease, hemorrhoids, fissures, decreased saliva and GI peristalsis - correct answer ✔✔GI
physiological changes
decreased rate of impulses and neurotransmitters, slowed cranial nerve responses, decreased
proprioception - correct answer ✔✔neurological physiological changes
decreased elasticity and subcutaneous fat, pigmentation changes, sebaceous gland decline, decreased
oils/dryness, decreased facial hair in men, increased facial hair in women - correct answer
✔✔integumentary physiological changes
decreased accommodation, slowed response to light/dark changes, yellowing lens, altered color
perception, smaller pupils, increased sensitivity to glare - correct answer ✔✔sensory/eyes physiological
changes
decreased acuity for high frequencies, thickened tympanic membrane, sclerosis of inner ear, increased
wax - correct answer ✔✔sensory/ear physiological changes
diminished taste, smell, touch - correct answer ✔✔sensory taste/smell/touch physiological changes
decreased number of nephrons/ bladder capacity/sphincter tone, increased size of prostate - correct
answer ✔✔kidney physiological changes
decreased muscle mass and calcium stores in bones, degenerative joint disease - correct answer ✔✔M/S
physiological changes
decreased sperm count/rapidity of erections/estrogen levels, atrophy of vagina/uterus/breasts, desires
do not decline but physical ability does - correct answer ✔✔reproductive physiological changes
decreased thyroid secretions/pancreatic secretions/stress response - correct answer ✔✔endocrine
physiological changes
decreased T-cell, decreased immunity - correct answer ✔✔immune physiological changes
delirium, dehydration, malnutrition, health care associated infections, urinary incontinence, skin
breakdown, falls - correct answer ✔✔main risks/challenges/problems presented in older adults
sleep deprivation, infections, dehydration, pain, sensory impairment, drug interactions, anesthesia,
hypoxia - correct answer ✔✔risks for problems in elderly are increased by these factors
delirium - correct answer ✔✔acute, confusion state, underlying medical condition is usually the cause,
REVERSIBLE
