Week 4: Geriatric Syndromes Exam Study
Guide.
Frailty - answer✔A chronic condition in which the body has few reserves left
An independent geriatric syndrome - seen in older people with multiple comorbidities
Includes both physical and mental decline
Increased risk for morbidity and mortality
Falls - answer✔An event that results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or
other lower level.
Immobility - answer✔sarcopenia,
Sleep Disorders - answer✔Insomnia: difficulty with sleeping
Sleep apnea: A disorder characterized by repetitive cessation (>10 seconds) of respiration during
sleep
Pain - answer✔A sensation of distress
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage or described in terms of such damage
Occurs at physical, psychological & spiritual levels
Pain is whatever the person says it is, existing whenever he/she says it does.
Identify age-related changes that affect rest and sleep. - answer✔more time spent in bed awake
before sleeping, daytime napping, awakenings are frequent, total sleep time is reduced
Discuss the importance of sleep to the health and well-being of older adults. - answer✔risk
factors; depression, life stressors, poor sleep hygiene, lack of exercise, medications
Describe nursing assessments related to rest and sleep. - answer✔Information from the sleeping
partner, consideration of a sleep study, physical assessment