Galen NUR 257 Exams 1-4 : Concepts of Aging &
Chronic Illness Exam Up to Date 2025/2026 Latest
Exam Questions And Answers Complete Study
Guide Exam.
Domain 1: Theories of Aging & Prevention
1. A 79-year-old asks why she bruises so easily now. Which explanation is most
accurate?
A) "Your blood is thinner because you're older."
B) "Aging reduces subcutaneous fat and capillary integrity, so minor trauma causes
visible bruising."
C) "You must be on a blood thinner you forgot about."
D) "Bruising is always a sign of abuse in older adults."
Answer: B
Aging thins the subcutaneous fat layer and dermal-epidermal junction while capillaries
become more fragile. These normal changes make bruising more visible after minor
trauma. It is not automatically abuse, nor is it universal blood thinning.
2. A nurse is designing a fall-prevention program for a senior center. Which level of
prevention does this represent?
A) Primary
B) Secondary
C) Tertiary
D) Quaternary
,Answer: A
Fall prevention before a fall occurs is primary prevention. Secondary prevention would be
screening for fall risk after an incident; tertiary would be rehabilitation after a fall-related
fracture.
3. Which theory best explains why a 90-year-old's wounds heal more slowly than a 30-
year-old's?
A) Disengagement theory
B) Free radical theory
C) Activity theory
D) Continuity theory
Answer: B
The free radical theory attributes cellular aging to cumulative oxidative damage, which
impairs fibroblast function and collagen synthesis, slowing wound healing. The other
options are psychosocial theories.
Domain 2: Normal Aging Changes
4. An 80-year-old reports she can't taste food as well as she used to. Which age-related
change explains this?
A) Decreased number of taste buds and olfactory receptors
B) Increased saliva production
C) Thickening of the tongue
D) Overgrowth of papillae
,Answer: A
Taste buds and olfactory receptors decline with age, and smell contributes heavily to flavor
perception. This is why older adults often report food tasting bland and may add excess
salt.
5. Which cardiovascular change is an expected part of normal aging?
A) Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction below 40%
B) Stiffening of arterial walls with increased systolic pressure
C) New-onset atrial fibrillation
D) Development of a systolic murmur
Answer: B
Arterial stiffening is a normal aging change that raises systolic blood pressure and pulse
pressure. EF below 40%, new AFib, and new murmurs are pathologic, not normal aging.
6. An older adult's GFR has declined. Which medication adjustment principle is most
important?
A) Increase doses of renally cleared drugs
B) Monitor for accumulation of renally excreted drugs and adjust doses
C) Avoid all medications
D) Double the fluid intake to flush the kidneys
Answer: B
Declining GFR reduces clearance of renally excreted drugs (e.g., metformin, gabapentin,
many antibiotics), risking toxicity. Doses are adjusted based on renal function, not
increased.
, 7. An 85-year-old reports needing to get up at night to urinate. Which normal aging
change contributes most?
A) Decreased bladder capacity and increased nocturnal urine production
B) Increased ADH secretion at night
C) Strengthened detrusor muscle
D) Enlarged bladder capacity
Answer: A
Bladder capacity decreases and nocturnal ADH secretion declines with age, both
increasing nocturia. This raises fall risk and should be addressed with safety planning, not
dismissed.
Domain 3: Geriatric Syndromes
8. Which set of findings most strongly suggests frailty syndrome?
A) Unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low grip strength, slow gait, low activity
B) Hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia
C) Isolated memory complaints with intact function
D) A single fall with no injury
Answer: A
Frailty is defined by the Fried phenotype: weight loss, exhaustion, weakness (low grip
strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity. Three or more criteria indicate
frailty.
Chronic Illness Exam Up to Date 2025/2026 Latest
Exam Questions And Answers Complete Study
Guide Exam.
Domain 1: Theories of Aging & Prevention
1. A 79-year-old asks why she bruises so easily now. Which explanation is most
accurate?
A) "Your blood is thinner because you're older."
B) "Aging reduces subcutaneous fat and capillary integrity, so minor trauma causes
visible bruising."
C) "You must be on a blood thinner you forgot about."
D) "Bruising is always a sign of abuse in older adults."
Answer: B
Aging thins the subcutaneous fat layer and dermal-epidermal junction while capillaries
become more fragile. These normal changes make bruising more visible after minor
trauma. It is not automatically abuse, nor is it universal blood thinning.
2. A nurse is designing a fall-prevention program for a senior center. Which level of
prevention does this represent?
A) Primary
B) Secondary
C) Tertiary
D) Quaternary
,Answer: A
Fall prevention before a fall occurs is primary prevention. Secondary prevention would be
screening for fall risk after an incident; tertiary would be rehabilitation after a fall-related
fracture.
3. Which theory best explains why a 90-year-old's wounds heal more slowly than a 30-
year-old's?
A) Disengagement theory
B) Free radical theory
C) Activity theory
D) Continuity theory
Answer: B
The free radical theory attributes cellular aging to cumulative oxidative damage, which
impairs fibroblast function and collagen synthesis, slowing wound healing. The other
options are psychosocial theories.
Domain 2: Normal Aging Changes
4. An 80-year-old reports she can't taste food as well as she used to. Which age-related
change explains this?
A) Decreased number of taste buds and olfactory receptors
B) Increased saliva production
C) Thickening of the tongue
D) Overgrowth of papillae
,Answer: A
Taste buds and olfactory receptors decline with age, and smell contributes heavily to flavor
perception. This is why older adults often report food tasting bland and may add excess
salt.
5. Which cardiovascular change is an expected part of normal aging?
A) Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction below 40%
B) Stiffening of arterial walls with increased systolic pressure
C) New-onset atrial fibrillation
D) Development of a systolic murmur
Answer: B
Arterial stiffening is a normal aging change that raises systolic blood pressure and pulse
pressure. EF below 40%, new AFib, and new murmurs are pathologic, not normal aging.
6. An older adult's GFR has declined. Which medication adjustment principle is most
important?
A) Increase doses of renally cleared drugs
B) Monitor for accumulation of renally excreted drugs and adjust doses
C) Avoid all medications
D) Double the fluid intake to flush the kidneys
Answer: B
Declining GFR reduces clearance of renally excreted drugs (e.g., metformin, gabapentin,
many antibiotics), risking toxicity. Doses are adjusted based on renal function, not
increased.
, 7. An 85-year-old reports needing to get up at night to urinate. Which normal aging
change contributes most?
A) Decreased bladder capacity and increased nocturnal urine production
B) Increased ADH secretion at night
C) Strengthened detrusor muscle
D) Enlarged bladder capacity
Answer: A
Bladder capacity decreases and nocturnal ADH secretion declines with age, both
increasing nocturia. This raises fall risk and should be addressed with safety planning, not
dismissed.
Domain 3: Geriatric Syndromes
8. Which set of findings most strongly suggests frailty syndrome?
A) Unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low grip strength, slow gait, low activity
B) Hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia
C) Isolated memory complaints with intact function
D) A single fall with no injury
Answer: A
Frailty is defined by the Fried phenotype: weight loss, exhaustion, weakness (low grip
strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity. Three or more criteria indicate
frailty.
