Gerontology Final Exam- With 100%
Correct Answers
1. A nurse interviews a centenarian gathering data for a large study. In the interview, the
centenarian defines aging as not growing older, but growing wiser. Which of the
following is the best response to this definition by the nurse?
A) "Aging might make you wiser, but it does lead to eventual death."
B) "Healthy maturity is characterized by wisdom."
C) "How did you get to live to this old?"
D) "I will never make it to be 100 like you." - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: B
Healthy maturity is characterized not only by physical decline but also by wisdom. The
other responses are not therapeutic.
2. A nurse interviews a centenarian gathering data for a large study. In the interview, the
centenarian says, "You're only as old as you feel, some days I feel like 'I'm 50.'" To
which definition of aging does this response correspond?
A) Chronologic aging
B) Functional aging
C) Perceived aging
D) Subjective aging - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: D
Subjective age describes a person's perception of his or her age. While perceived age
is other people's estimation of someone's age. Chronologic age is the length of time that
has passed since birth, and functional age is associated with whether individuals can
contribute to society and experience personal quality of life.
3. An 85-year-old client takes meals on wheels around the community. The client states,
"All those old people really need me, you know how older people are. They can't get
out, and are a burden to their family, and I just want to help." Most of the people on the
client's delivery route are in their 60s. Which of the following characterizes this
scenario?
A) Ageism
B) Aging anxiety
,C) Aging attribution
D) Antiaging - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: A
Ageism is a way of pigeonholing people and not allowing them to be individuals with
unique ways of living their lives. Older adults between the ages 81 and 98 held more
ageist stereotypes and reported more avoidance of older adults than younger older
adults. The antiaging movement views aging as a process that can be stopped and the
life span as something that can be extended for up to 200 years. Aging anxiety is fears
about detrimental effects associated with older adulthood. Age attribution is the
tendency to attribute problems to the aging process rather than to pathologic and
potentially treatable conditions.
4. Which of the following statements, made by a new nurse, are myths and need
correcting? (Select all that apply.)
A) "Ageism is highly influenced by stereotypes and cultural values."
B) "Ageism is more common in industrialized societies."
C) "In the United States, 20% of the older adults who need care are in a nursing home."
D) "People consider themselves old when they are old enough to apply for Medicare."
E) "With increased age, people become more diverse and people become less like their
age peers." - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: C, D
The realities are that between 4% and 5% of older adults live in a nursing home at any
time. Most older adults live independently, have high levels of self-reported health, and
are aging successfully. People usually feel old based on their health and function, rather
than on their chronologic age. They are diverse, even though ageism is rampant in the
United States and is influenced by cultural values.
5. A nurse assesses a community of older adults. Which of the following persons is at
highest risk for a shortened life expectancy?
A) A college professor born in 1956
B) A homemaker born in 1957
C) A nuclear engineer born in 1958
D) A nurse born in 1959 - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: B
Socioeconomic characteristics that are most strongly correlated with healthy aging are
poverty and lower educational level. Limited English proficiency and poor health literacy
skills are two variables that have a negative impact on health and functioning. The
college professor, engineer, and nurse positions require more education.
,6. A nurse assesses the risk of the members of the community. Which of the following
are most likely to be living at or below the poverty line?
A) An 83-year-old single woman
B) A couple who are both 72 years old
C) A white 73-year-old man
D) A Hispanic couple in their 60s - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: A
7. A nurse is discussing an older adult's recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis with a
colleague. Which of the nurse's statements reflects an accurate view of the relationship
between aging and wellness?
A. "It's important that the individual knows this is an expected part of growing older."
B. We need to teach the older adult how he can keep living a fruitful life in spite of his
diagnosis."
C) "We need to make sure our teaching is not too detailed for someone of his age."
D) "We need to ensure his expectations of continuing to live alone are realistic." -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: B
Answer B reflects a desire to foster a fulfilling and productive life for the older adult
despite his diagnosis, and reflects an understanding of wellness and aging. Option A
implies that illness is an inevitability of aging. Option C suggests that older adults have a
limited capacity to learn by virtue of their age, and option D implies pessimism about the
health and functioning of the older adult.
8. A nurse is teaching an older person about the concept of successful aging. Which of
the nurse's questions addresses an important contributor to successful aging?
A) "Are you largely free of acute or chronic illnesses?"
B) "Do you feel financially secure?"
C) "Do you feel like you actively engage with life?"
D) "Do you have a reliable support network?" - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: C
Research has indicated that an active engagement with life is central to successful and
healthy aging. Absence of illness, financial security, and the nature of a person's
support network are not identified components of successful aging.
9. An older adult has recently begun to display unprecedented lapses in short-term
memory. The nurse overhears a colleague reassuring the person by saying, "Try not to
worry; it's just a part of growing older." The nurse recognizes that this is an example of
what phenomenon?
, A) Multiple jeopardy
B) Gerontophobia
C) Age attribution
D) Implicit ageism - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: C
Age attribution is the act of attributing a problem to age rather than to a pathology, as in
the colleague's statement. Multiple jeopardy is the compounding of discrimination based
on factors such as race and gender, while gerontophobia is the fear or hatred of older
people. Implicit ageism is the unrecognized, negative perception of older people.
10. A nurse hears a colleague make the statement, "Most older adults have nothing to
worry about financially." Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
A) "You have to remember that there's a huge economic disparity among older adults."
B) "Actually, the number of older people living below the poverty line has been
increasing, not decreasing."
C) "This isn't really true now, but it is true that the gaps that disadvantaged groups live
with are expected to shrink."
D) "This is true for some groups, but not for minorities who are less likely to be living
with their relatives." - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: A
An important consideration with regard to economic conditions of older adults is the
tremendous range in financial status, which varies significantly according to race,
gender, and living arrangements. The number of adults living below the poverty line,
however, has decreased in recent years. The disparities that separate disadvantaged
groups from more economically secure older adults are predicted to persist. Minorities
are more likely, not less likely, to be living with their relatives.
11. A nurse is conducting a study on the needs and living situations of older adults in
the community. Which of the following statements should the nurse take into account?
A) A majority of older Americans will live in a nursing home at some point.
B) More older men live alone than older women.
C) Assisted living arrangements have become increasingly common.
D) Most older Americans reside in some form of institutional arrangement. - CORRECT
ANSWERS-Ans: C
Correct Answers
1. A nurse interviews a centenarian gathering data for a large study. In the interview, the
centenarian defines aging as not growing older, but growing wiser. Which of the
following is the best response to this definition by the nurse?
A) "Aging might make you wiser, but it does lead to eventual death."
B) "Healthy maturity is characterized by wisdom."
C) "How did you get to live to this old?"
D) "I will never make it to be 100 like you." - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: B
Healthy maturity is characterized not only by physical decline but also by wisdom. The
other responses are not therapeutic.
2. A nurse interviews a centenarian gathering data for a large study. In the interview, the
centenarian says, "You're only as old as you feel, some days I feel like 'I'm 50.'" To
which definition of aging does this response correspond?
A) Chronologic aging
B) Functional aging
C) Perceived aging
D) Subjective aging - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: D
Subjective age describes a person's perception of his or her age. While perceived age
is other people's estimation of someone's age. Chronologic age is the length of time that
has passed since birth, and functional age is associated with whether individuals can
contribute to society and experience personal quality of life.
3. An 85-year-old client takes meals on wheels around the community. The client states,
"All those old people really need me, you know how older people are. They can't get
out, and are a burden to their family, and I just want to help." Most of the people on the
client's delivery route are in their 60s. Which of the following characterizes this
scenario?
A) Ageism
B) Aging anxiety
,C) Aging attribution
D) Antiaging - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: A
Ageism is a way of pigeonholing people and not allowing them to be individuals with
unique ways of living their lives. Older adults between the ages 81 and 98 held more
ageist stereotypes and reported more avoidance of older adults than younger older
adults. The antiaging movement views aging as a process that can be stopped and the
life span as something that can be extended for up to 200 years. Aging anxiety is fears
about detrimental effects associated with older adulthood. Age attribution is the
tendency to attribute problems to the aging process rather than to pathologic and
potentially treatable conditions.
4. Which of the following statements, made by a new nurse, are myths and need
correcting? (Select all that apply.)
A) "Ageism is highly influenced by stereotypes and cultural values."
B) "Ageism is more common in industrialized societies."
C) "In the United States, 20% of the older adults who need care are in a nursing home."
D) "People consider themselves old when they are old enough to apply for Medicare."
E) "With increased age, people become more diverse and people become less like their
age peers." - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: C, D
The realities are that between 4% and 5% of older adults live in a nursing home at any
time. Most older adults live independently, have high levels of self-reported health, and
are aging successfully. People usually feel old based on their health and function, rather
than on their chronologic age. They are diverse, even though ageism is rampant in the
United States and is influenced by cultural values.
5. A nurse assesses a community of older adults. Which of the following persons is at
highest risk for a shortened life expectancy?
A) A college professor born in 1956
B) A homemaker born in 1957
C) A nuclear engineer born in 1958
D) A nurse born in 1959 - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: B
Socioeconomic characteristics that are most strongly correlated with healthy aging are
poverty and lower educational level. Limited English proficiency and poor health literacy
skills are two variables that have a negative impact on health and functioning. The
college professor, engineer, and nurse positions require more education.
,6. A nurse assesses the risk of the members of the community. Which of the following
are most likely to be living at or below the poverty line?
A) An 83-year-old single woman
B) A couple who are both 72 years old
C) A white 73-year-old man
D) A Hispanic couple in their 60s - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: A
7. A nurse is discussing an older adult's recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis with a
colleague. Which of the nurse's statements reflects an accurate view of the relationship
between aging and wellness?
A. "It's important that the individual knows this is an expected part of growing older."
B. We need to teach the older adult how he can keep living a fruitful life in spite of his
diagnosis."
C) "We need to make sure our teaching is not too detailed for someone of his age."
D) "We need to ensure his expectations of continuing to live alone are realistic." -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: B
Answer B reflects a desire to foster a fulfilling and productive life for the older adult
despite his diagnosis, and reflects an understanding of wellness and aging. Option A
implies that illness is an inevitability of aging. Option C suggests that older adults have a
limited capacity to learn by virtue of their age, and option D implies pessimism about the
health and functioning of the older adult.
8. A nurse is teaching an older person about the concept of successful aging. Which of
the nurse's questions addresses an important contributor to successful aging?
A) "Are you largely free of acute or chronic illnesses?"
B) "Do you feel financially secure?"
C) "Do you feel like you actively engage with life?"
D) "Do you have a reliable support network?" - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: C
Research has indicated that an active engagement with life is central to successful and
healthy aging. Absence of illness, financial security, and the nature of a person's
support network are not identified components of successful aging.
9. An older adult has recently begun to display unprecedented lapses in short-term
memory. The nurse overhears a colleague reassuring the person by saying, "Try not to
worry; it's just a part of growing older." The nurse recognizes that this is an example of
what phenomenon?
, A) Multiple jeopardy
B) Gerontophobia
C) Age attribution
D) Implicit ageism - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: C
Age attribution is the act of attributing a problem to age rather than to a pathology, as in
the colleague's statement. Multiple jeopardy is the compounding of discrimination based
on factors such as race and gender, while gerontophobia is the fear or hatred of older
people. Implicit ageism is the unrecognized, negative perception of older people.
10. A nurse hears a colleague make the statement, "Most older adults have nothing to
worry about financially." Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
A) "You have to remember that there's a huge economic disparity among older adults."
B) "Actually, the number of older people living below the poverty line has been
increasing, not decreasing."
C) "This isn't really true now, but it is true that the gaps that disadvantaged groups live
with are expected to shrink."
D) "This is true for some groups, but not for minorities who are less likely to be living
with their relatives." - CORRECT ANSWERS-Ans: A
An important consideration with regard to economic conditions of older adults is the
tremendous range in financial status, which varies significantly according to race,
gender, and living arrangements. The number of adults living below the poverty line,
however, has decreased in recent years. The disparities that separate disadvantaged
groups from more economically secure older adults are predicted to persist. Minorities
are more likely, not less likely, to be living with their relatives.
11. A nurse is conducting a study on the needs and living situations of older adults in
the community. Which of the following statements should the nurse take into account?
A) A majority of older Americans will live in a nursing home at some point.
B) More older men live alone than older women.
C) Assisted living arrangements have become increasingly common.
D) Most older Americans reside in some form of institutional arrangement. - CORRECT
ANSWERS-Ans: C
