Chapter 11: Health Care of the Older
Adult 2026 Exam latest update
1. You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and symptoms of
Parkinson disease have
become more severe over the past several months. The man tells you that he can
no longer do as many
things for himself as he used to be able to do. What factor should you recognize as
impacting your
patients life most significantly?
A) Neurologic deficits
B) Loss of independence
C) Age-related changes
D) Tremors and decreased mobility - Ans: B
Feedback:
This patients statement places a priority on his loss of independence. This is
undoubtedly a result of the
neurologic changes associated with his disease, but this is not the focus of his
statement. This is a
disease process, not an age-related physiological change.
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large number of
older adults who are
living with various forms of cardiovascular disease. This nurse is well aware that
heart disease is the
,leading cause of death in the aged. What is an age-related physiological change
that contributes to this
trend?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age. - Ans: A
Feedback:
The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is cardiovascular
disease. With age,
heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity, resulting in a reduced stroke volume.
As a person ages,
systolic blood pressure does not decrease, resting heart rate does not decrease,
and the aged are not less
likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager
about a 65-year-old
coworker. What phenomenon would the nurse identify when hearing the
employee state, He should just
retire and make way for some new blood.?
A) Intolerance
B) Ageism
C) Dependence
D) Nonspecific prejudice - Ans: B
Feedback:
,Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged. Intolerance is implied by the
employees statement, but the
intolerance is aimed at the coworkers age. The employees statement does not raise
concern about
dependence. The prejudice exhibited in the statement is very specific.
4. The nurse is caring for a 65-year-old patient who has previously been diagnosed
with hypertension.
Which of the following blood pressure readings represents the threshold between
high-normal blood
pressure and hypertension?
A) 140/90 mm Hg
B) 145/95 mm Hg
C) 150/100 mm Hg
D) 160/100 mm Hg - Ans: A
Feedback:
Hypertension is the diagnosis given when the blood pressure is greater than 140/90
mm Hg. This makes
the other options incorrect.
5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been hospitalized
for a fractured radius. The
patients daughter has accompanied the patient to the hospital and asks you what
her father can do for his
very dry skin, which has become susceptible to cracking and shearing. What would
be your best
response?
, A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning.
C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable.
D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products. - Ans: A
Feedback:
Showers are less drying than hot tub baths. Sun exposure should indeed be limited,
but daily application
of sunscreen is not necessary for many patients. Dry skin is an age-related change,
but this does not
mean that no appropriate interventions exist to address it. Dairy intake is
unrelated.
6. An elderly patient has come in to the clinic for her twice-yearly physical. The
patient tells the nurse that
she is generally enjoying good health, but that she has been having occasional
episodes of constipation
over the past 6 months. What intervention should the nurse first suggest?
A) Reduce the amount of stress she currently experiences.
B) Increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake.
C) Take herbal laxatives, such as senna, each night at bedtime.
D) Increase daily intake of water. - Ans: D
Feedback:
Constipation is a common problem in older adults and increasing fluid intake is an
appropriate early
intervention. This should likely be attempted prior to recommending senna or
other laxatives. Stress
Adult 2026 Exam latest update
1. You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and symptoms of
Parkinson disease have
become more severe over the past several months. The man tells you that he can
no longer do as many
things for himself as he used to be able to do. What factor should you recognize as
impacting your
patients life most significantly?
A) Neurologic deficits
B) Loss of independence
C) Age-related changes
D) Tremors and decreased mobility - Ans: B
Feedback:
This patients statement places a priority on his loss of independence. This is
undoubtedly a result of the
neurologic changes associated with his disease, but this is not the focus of his
statement. This is a
disease process, not an age-related physiological change.
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large number of
older adults who are
living with various forms of cardiovascular disease. This nurse is well aware that
heart disease is the
,leading cause of death in the aged. What is an age-related physiological change
that contributes to this
trend?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age. - Ans: A
Feedback:
The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is cardiovascular
disease. With age,
heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity, resulting in a reduced stroke volume.
As a person ages,
systolic blood pressure does not decrease, resting heart rate does not decrease,
and the aged are not less
likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager
about a 65-year-old
coworker. What phenomenon would the nurse identify when hearing the
employee state, He should just
retire and make way for some new blood.?
A) Intolerance
B) Ageism
C) Dependence
D) Nonspecific prejudice - Ans: B
Feedback:
,Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged. Intolerance is implied by the
employees statement, but the
intolerance is aimed at the coworkers age. The employees statement does not raise
concern about
dependence. The prejudice exhibited in the statement is very specific.
4. The nurse is caring for a 65-year-old patient who has previously been diagnosed
with hypertension.
Which of the following blood pressure readings represents the threshold between
high-normal blood
pressure and hypertension?
A) 140/90 mm Hg
B) 145/95 mm Hg
C) 150/100 mm Hg
D) 160/100 mm Hg - Ans: A
Feedback:
Hypertension is the diagnosis given when the blood pressure is greater than 140/90
mm Hg. This makes
the other options incorrect.
5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been hospitalized
for a fractured radius. The
patients daughter has accompanied the patient to the hospital and asks you what
her father can do for his
very dry skin, which has become susceptible to cracking and shearing. What would
be your best
response?
, A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning.
C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable.
D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products. - Ans: A
Feedback:
Showers are less drying than hot tub baths. Sun exposure should indeed be limited,
but daily application
of sunscreen is not necessary for many patients. Dry skin is an age-related change,
but this does not
mean that no appropriate interventions exist to address it. Dairy intake is
unrelated.
6. An elderly patient has come in to the clinic for her twice-yearly physical. The
patient tells the nurse that
she is generally enjoying good health, but that she has been having occasional
episodes of constipation
over the past 6 months. What intervention should the nurse first suggest?
A) Reduce the amount of stress she currently experiences.
B) Increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake.
C) Take herbal laxatives, such as senna, each night at bedtime.
D) Increase daily intake of water. - Ans: D
Feedback:
Constipation is a common problem in older adults and increasing fluid intake is an
appropriate early
intervention. This should likely be attempted prior to recommending senna or
other laxatives. Stress
