Geriatrics Practice Questions
2024/2025
Which one of the following is most true about the rule of fourths?
a. One fourth of geriatric problems are iatrogenic.
b. Little can be done to prevent three fourths of the problems of aging.
c. For every medical complaint a patient has, a careful assessment can identify three other
diagnoses.
d. What used to be called normal aging can be largely explained by processes that are not normal.
e. A good way to conduct a geriatric assessment is to use four categories: mental, physical,
psychosocial, and environmental. - d. What used to be called normal aging can be largely explained
by processes that are not normal.
Which one of the following is most true about aging changes?
a. Stage 3 and 4 sleep decreases.
b. Renal perfusion is not reduced, but renal function is reduced.
c. Hearing acuity declines beginning in middle age.
d. Prostatic enlargement occurs only in a minority of men. - a. Stage 3 and 4 sleep decreases.
An old woman who is cared for by attentive, cautious, concerned family is particularly likely to suffer
from which one of the following complications after an episode of gastroenteritis?
a. Immobility related to overconcern
b. Continued vomiting caused by too-rapid feeding
,c. Diarrhea resulting from administration of milk products
d. Constipation related to overtreatment of diarrhea - a. Immobility related to overconcern
Which one of the following is most true about psychological aging?
a. Disengagement tends to promote better psychological health than continued engagement.
b. Having a spouse is the best way to be assured of having a caregiver when one becomes disabled.
c. Ability to have quality of life is related to cognitive function.
d. Planning for the future is a key element of successful aging.
e. Many older people are ageist. - d. Planning for the future is a key element of successful aging
Of the following conditions, which one is most common and most often preventable?
a. Falls
b. Frailty
c. Cognitive impairment
d. Iatrogenic disease
e. Depression - d. Iatrogenic disease
Which of the following is a basic rather than instrumental ADL?
a. Shopping
b. Using the telephone
c. Bathing
d. Food prep
,e. Financial management - c. Bathing
Geriatric review of systems includes which of the following?
a. Sensory impairments
b. Changes in cognition
c. Symptoms of depression
d. Changes in weight or appetite
e. All of the above - e. All of the above
Mr. C is an 86-year-old male visiting your clinic to establish care. Which of the following answers best
describes your plan for the initial evaluation of Mr. C?
a. Rapid assessment of his most pressing concern with follow-up visit scheduled at 6 months.
b. Prioritize function and his chief complaint, focus on learning about his health care goals, and plan
for follow up.
c. Spend the majority of the time doing an extremely thorough physical exam; discuss concerns only
if time allows.
d. Feel overwhelmed by Mr. C's vast needs, order multiple lab tests, send Mr. C home without plans
for follow up. - b. Prioritize function and his chief complaint, focus on learning about his health care
goals, and plan for follow up.
Ways in which a hospital physical design fails to meet the needs of older adults include all of the
following except :
a. Noisy units with excess background commotion
b. Lack of supportive, functional seating for patients and family
c. A lack of accessible emergency staff-call systems
d. Easily graspable handrails on both sides of all hallways - d. Easily graspable handrails on both sides
of all hallways
, An 88-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital 1 week ago. The physiologic risk factors that
contribute to the geriatric syndrome of frailty for this woman include all of the following except:
a. Weight loss of 15% over the past 6 months
b. Decreased self-perceived ability to walk one city block because of fatigue
c. Ongoing vitamin D supplementation during this hospital stay
d. Exclusive bed rest for the past 4 days
e. Eating less than 25% of provided meals for the past 3 days - c. Ongoing vitamin D supplementation
during this hospital stay
Ways to prevent delirium in a hospitalized older adult include all of the following except:
a. Ensuring optimal pain control with narcotic medications
b. Engaging family members and staff to frequently reorient patients and provide a familiar
environment
c. Providing vision, hearing, and other sensory adaptive measures to all appropriate patients
d. Limiting time out of bed to prevent overstimulation
e. Preserving clear day/night differences by keeping shades open during the day and promoting a
quiet environment at night with limited interruptions - d. Limiting time out of bed to prevent
overstimulation
The intervention most likely to maximize nutrition for hospitalized older adults is:
a. Providing assistance with all meals
b.Ensuring that all hospitalized older adults are provided a diet of increased-consistency liquids with
limitations of salt and saturated fat
2024/2025
Which one of the following is most true about the rule of fourths?
a. One fourth of geriatric problems are iatrogenic.
b. Little can be done to prevent three fourths of the problems of aging.
c. For every medical complaint a patient has, a careful assessment can identify three other
diagnoses.
d. What used to be called normal aging can be largely explained by processes that are not normal.
e. A good way to conduct a geriatric assessment is to use four categories: mental, physical,
psychosocial, and environmental. - d. What used to be called normal aging can be largely explained
by processes that are not normal.
Which one of the following is most true about aging changes?
a. Stage 3 and 4 sleep decreases.
b. Renal perfusion is not reduced, but renal function is reduced.
c. Hearing acuity declines beginning in middle age.
d. Prostatic enlargement occurs only in a minority of men. - a. Stage 3 and 4 sleep decreases.
An old woman who is cared for by attentive, cautious, concerned family is particularly likely to suffer
from which one of the following complications after an episode of gastroenteritis?
a. Immobility related to overconcern
b. Continued vomiting caused by too-rapid feeding
,c. Diarrhea resulting from administration of milk products
d. Constipation related to overtreatment of diarrhea - a. Immobility related to overconcern
Which one of the following is most true about psychological aging?
a. Disengagement tends to promote better psychological health than continued engagement.
b. Having a spouse is the best way to be assured of having a caregiver when one becomes disabled.
c. Ability to have quality of life is related to cognitive function.
d. Planning for the future is a key element of successful aging.
e. Many older people are ageist. - d. Planning for the future is a key element of successful aging
Of the following conditions, which one is most common and most often preventable?
a. Falls
b. Frailty
c. Cognitive impairment
d. Iatrogenic disease
e. Depression - d. Iatrogenic disease
Which of the following is a basic rather than instrumental ADL?
a. Shopping
b. Using the telephone
c. Bathing
d. Food prep
,e. Financial management - c. Bathing
Geriatric review of systems includes which of the following?
a. Sensory impairments
b. Changes in cognition
c. Symptoms of depression
d. Changes in weight or appetite
e. All of the above - e. All of the above
Mr. C is an 86-year-old male visiting your clinic to establish care. Which of the following answers best
describes your plan for the initial evaluation of Mr. C?
a. Rapid assessment of his most pressing concern with follow-up visit scheduled at 6 months.
b. Prioritize function and his chief complaint, focus on learning about his health care goals, and plan
for follow up.
c. Spend the majority of the time doing an extremely thorough physical exam; discuss concerns only
if time allows.
d. Feel overwhelmed by Mr. C's vast needs, order multiple lab tests, send Mr. C home without plans
for follow up. - b. Prioritize function and his chief complaint, focus on learning about his health care
goals, and plan for follow up.
Ways in which a hospital physical design fails to meet the needs of older adults include all of the
following except :
a. Noisy units with excess background commotion
b. Lack of supportive, functional seating for patients and family
c. A lack of accessible emergency staff-call systems
d. Easily graspable handrails on both sides of all hallways - d. Easily graspable handrails on both sides
of all hallways
, An 88-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital 1 week ago. The physiologic risk factors that
contribute to the geriatric syndrome of frailty for this woman include all of the following except:
a. Weight loss of 15% over the past 6 months
b. Decreased self-perceived ability to walk one city block because of fatigue
c. Ongoing vitamin D supplementation during this hospital stay
d. Exclusive bed rest for the past 4 days
e. Eating less than 25% of provided meals for the past 3 days - c. Ongoing vitamin D supplementation
during this hospital stay
Ways to prevent delirium in a hospitalized older adult include all of the following except:
a. Ensuring optimal pain control with narcotic medications
b. Engaging family members and staff to frequently reorient patients and provide a familiar
environment
c. Providing vision, hearing, and other sensory adaptive measures to all appropriate patients
d. Limiting time out of bed to prevent overstimulation
e. Preserving clear day/night differences by keeping shades open during the day and promoting a
quiet environment at night with limited interruptions - d. Limiting time out of bed to prevent
overstimulation
The intervention most likely to maximize nutrition for hospitalized older adults is:
a. Providing assistance with all meals
b.Ensuring that all hospitalized older adults are provided a diet of increased-consistency liquids with
limitations of salt and saturated fat
