Question 1
1. A nurse who works on a subacute medical unit of a hospital is discussing the increasing
population of older adults on the unit with a colleague. Which of the colleague's following
statements about older adults is most accurate?
A) "Fortunately, Social Security ensures a sufficient level of income for people over 65."
B) "It helps that older people don't have to directly incur any costs for their medical care."
C) "Most of the older clients on the unit will have come to us from nursing homes."
D) "It's reassuring that people are starting to show more concern for older adults than in
decades past."
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: D
Feedback:
The formation of the Administration on Aging, enactment of the Older Americans Act,
and the introduction of Medicaid and Medicare all occurred in 1965. Since that time,
society has demonstrated a growing concern for its older members. Myths about older
people include the belief that Social Security ensures them an adequate income, that
they do not have to pay for medical care, and that most older adults live in nursing
homes.
Question 2
2. A public health nurse who directs a homecare program that serves an area with a large
population of older adults is conducting a long-term strategic plan. Which of the following
phenomena should the nurse take into account when planning for the future?
1
,A) While life expectancy will continue to rise, the percentage of older adults in the United
States relative to the overall population will decrease.
B) By 2020, it is expected that over one-third of Americans will be over the age of 65.
C) Both life expectancy and the percentage of people over 65 in the population will increase
in coming decades.
D) Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, are expected to bring a gradual decrease in the
number of older adults by 2020.
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: C
Feedback:
Both life expectancy and the percentage of individuals over age 65 are expected to
increase in coming years. About 17% of the population is expected to be over 65 by 2020.
Question 3
3. A nurse who practices in a long-term care facility is providing care for a 101-year-old
black female. The nurse's coworker states, "It's gratifying that black people in this country
are finally reaching the same levels of health that white people are enjoying." How can the
nurse best respond?
A) "Actually, the difference in life expectancy between black people and white people is
growing, not shrinking."
B) "We've not yet arrived at a place where the life expectancies are equal between black and
white people, but the gap is decreasing gradually."
C) "Black women do tend to live longer than white women, but the overall life expectancies
when men are included are not yet equal."
D) "You're right. Since the 1980s the life expectancies of black and white Americans have
remained nearly the same."
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: A
Feedback:
2
, Since the 1980s, the gap between life expectancies of black Americans and white
Americans has been increasing rather than decreasing. Black women do not tend to live
longer than white women.
Question 4
4. Which of the following phenomena most likely accounts for the fact that more women
than men live alone later in life?
A) Women tend to both live longer than men and marry men older than themselves.
B) Men tend to have greater access to care facilities due to higher incomes and savings.
C) Men are more likely to live with younger family members following the death of a spouse.
D) Social pressures tend to stigmatize older men who live alone.
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: A
Feedback:
The facts that women live longer than men and often marry men older than themselves
account for their higher rates of living alone in old age. Men are not noted to have
greater access to care facilities, to be more likely to live with younger family members or
to face stigma for living alone.
Question 5
5. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the financial status of older
adults in the United States?
A) The percentage of older people living below the poverty level has been increasing.
B) The financial needs of most older adults are well met by Social Security income alone.
C) The recent decline in housing prices has made many older adults "asset rich and cash
poor."
3
, D) Women 65 years of age and older is the fastest growing group of employment.
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: C
Feedback:
The percentage of older people living below the poverty level has been declining, with
about 10% now falling into this category. Most older people depend on Social Security
for more than half of their income. Although the median net worth of older households
is nearly twice the national average because of the high prevalence of home ownership
by elders, many older adults are "asset rich and cash poor." The recent decline in housing
prices, however, has made that asset a less valuable one for many older adults. There has
been a significant rise in the percentage of middle-aged women who are employed,
although there has been little change in the labor force participation of women 65 years
of age and older.
Question 6
6. A care aide employed on a geriatric medicine unit of a hospital expresses frustration
that "old people get sick so much more often than young people." What is the nurse's
most appropriate response to this statement?
A) "In fact, the prevalence of obesity and accompanying chronic illnesses mean that young
people actually have more chronic conditions than older adults."
B) "It's actually a myth that older adults require more hospitalization than young people."
C) "Actually, older adults experience fewer acute illnesses than younger people, it's just that
they tend to take longer to recover from them."
D) "With the increase in life expectancies in recent years, most older people actually live free
of chronic diseases until very late in life."
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: C
Feedback:
4
1. A nurse who works on a subacute medical unit of a hospital is discussing the increasing
population of older adults on the unit with a colleague. Which of the colleague's following
statements about older adults is most accurate?
A) "Fortunately, Social Security ensures a sufficient level of income for people over 65."
B) "It helps that older people don't have to directly incur any costs for their medical care."
C) "Most of the older clients on the unit will have come to us from nursing homes."
D) "It's reassuring that people are starting to show more concern for older adults than in
decades past."
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: D
Feedback:
The formation of the Administration on Aging, enactment of the Older Americans Act,
and the introduction of Medicaid and Medicare all occurred in 1965. Since that time,
society has demonstrated a growing concern for its older members. Myths about older
people include the belief that Social Security ensures them an adequate income, that
they do not have to pay for medical care, and that most older adults live in nursing
homes.
Question 2
2. A public health nurse who directs a homecare program that serves an area with a large
population of older adults is conducting a long-term strategic plan. Which of the following
phenomena should the nurse take into account when planning for the future?
1
,A) While life expectancy will continue to rise, the percentage of older adults in the United
States relative to the overall population will decrease.
B) By 2020, it is expected that over one-third of Americans will be over the age of 65.
C) Both life expectancy and the percentage of people over 65 in the population will increase
in coming decades.
D) Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, are expected to bring a gradual decrease in the
number of older adults by 2020.
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: C
Feedback:
Both life expectancy and the percentage of individuals over age 65 are expected to
increase in coming years. About 17% of the population is expected to be over 65 by 2020.
Question 3
3. A nurse who practices in a long-term care facility is providing care for a 101-year-old
black female. The nurse's coworker states, "It's gratifying that black people in this country
are finally reaching the same levels of health that white people are enjoying." How can the
nurse best respond?
A) "Actually, the difference in life expectancy between black people and white people is
growing, not shrinking."
B) "We've not yet arrived at a place where the life expectancies are equal between black and
white people, but the gap is decreasing gradually."
C) "Black women do tend to live longer than white women, but the overall life expectancies
when men are included are not yet equal."
D) "You're right. Since the 1980s the life expectancies of black and white Americans have
remained nearly the same."
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: A
Feedback:
2
, Since the 1980s, the gap between life expectancies of black Americans and white
Americans has been increasing rather than decreasing. Black women do not tend to live
longer than white women.
Question 4
4. Which of the following phenomena most likely accounts for the fact that more women
than men live alone later in life?
A) Women tend to both live longer than men and marry men older than themselves.
B) Men tend to have greater access to care facilities due to higher incomes and savings.
C) Men are more likely to live with younger family members following the death of a spouse.
D) Social pressures tend to stigmatize older men who live alone.
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: A
Feedback:
The facts that women live longer than men and often marry men older than themselves
account for their higher rates of living alone in old age. Men are not noted to have
greater access to care facilities, to be more likely to live with younger family members or
to face stigma for living alone.
Question 5
5. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the financial status of older
adults in the United States?
A) The percentage of older people living below the poverty level has been increasing.
B) The financial needs of most older adults are well met by Social Security income alone.
C) The recent decline in housing prices has made many older adults "asset rich and cash
poor."
3
, D) Women 65 years of age and older is the fastest growing group of employment.
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: C
Feedback:
The percentage of older people living below the poverty level has been declining, with
about 10% now falling into this category. Most older people depend on Social Security
for more than half of their income. Although the median net worth of older households
is nearly twice the national average because of the high prevalence of home ownership
by elders, many older adults are "asset rich and cash poor." The recent decline in housing
prices, however, has made that asset a less valuable one for many older adults. There has
been a significant rise in the percentage of middle-aged women who are employed,
although there has been little change in the labor force participation of women 65 years
of age and older.
Question 6
6. A care aide employed on a geriatric medicine unit of a hospital expresses frustration
that "old people get sick so much more often than young people." What is the nurse's
most appropriate response to this statement?
A) "In fact, the prevalence of obesity and accompanying chronic illnesses mean that young
people actually have more chronic conditions than older adults."
B) "It's actually a myth that older adults require more hospitalization than young people."
C) "Actually, older adults experience fewer acute illnesses than younger people, it's just that
they tend to take longer to recover from them."
D) "With the increase in life expectancies in recent years, most older people actually live free
of chronic diseases until very late in life."
CORRECT ANSWER
Ans: C
Feedback:
4
