Eliopoulos Chapter 5- Common Aging
Changes Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
1. During an assessment of an 82-year-old woman, a gerontological
nurse learns that the woman has lost over 4 inches in height over
the last several years. Which of the following factors have likely
contributed to this phenomenon? Select all that apply.
A) The woman's overall proportion of body water has decreased.
B) The client has experienced a loss of cartilage.
C) The woman's thyroid hormone levels have declined since the
sixth decade.
D) The client's vertebrae have thinned.
E) Loss of stature is a consequence of the woman's diet.
F) The woman's long bones have decreased in length. -
correct answer ✅Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Reduced hydration, loss of cartilage, and thinning of vertebrae can
all contribute to loss of stature. Decreased levels of TH, shortening
of long bones, and diet are not noted to contribute to this
phenomenon.
2. A 78-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of community-
acquired pneumonia. Potential pathological findings on a recent
,Eliopoulos Chapter 5- Common Aging
Changes Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
chest x-ray have prompted his physician to order a bronchoscopy
and lung function tests. Which of the following findings would be
most likely suggestive of pathological processes rather than normal,
age-related respiratory changes?
A) The client has fewer cilia than would be found in a younger
client.
B) Lung function tests reveal that both maximum breathing and
vital capacity are diminished since his last test.
C) There is an accumulation of serous fluid between the lungs and
the pleural membrane.
D) The lungs are smaller than younger adults' and there are fewer
alveoli. -
correct answer ✅Ans: C
Feedback:
While decreases in the number of cilia, alveoli, lung size, and lung
capacities are commonly associated with aging, an accumulation of
serous fluid would not be considered a normal consequence of the
aging process.
, Eliopoulos Chapter 5- Common Aging
Changes Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
3. An 80-year-old resident of an assisted living facility is proud of
the fact that he was an elite athlete during his younger years.
Despite his concerted efforts to remain physically active and
maintain his stamina, he is lamenting his loss of exercise tolerance
in recent years. How can his nurse best respond to these concerns?
A) "It's inevitable that your heart increases in size as you age, and
this is associated with a loss of cardiac efficiency."
B) "It's normal for your heart to contract less strongly as you age,
and this makes you somewhat less able to exercise vigorously."
C) "As you age, it's common for your heart rate becomes less
regular and this often results in fatigue."
D) "The normal increase in blood pressure that accompanies aging
leaves you with less cardiac reserve capacity than when you were
young." -
correct answer ✅Ans: B
Feedback:
Cardiac contractility decreases as a part of normal aging. An
increase in heart size, irregular heart rate, and increased blood
pressure would be considered pathological conditions regardless of
age.
Changes Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
1. During an assessment of an 82-year-old woman, a gerontological
nurse learns that the woman has lost over 4 inches in height over
the last several years. Which of the following factors have likely
contributed to this phenomenon? Select all that apply.
A) The woman's overall proportion of body water has decreased.
B) The client has experienced a loss of cartilage.
C) The woman's thyroid hormone levels have declined since the
sixth decade.
D) The client's vertebrae have thinned.
E) Loss of stature is a consequence of the woman's diet.
F) The woman's long bones have decreased in length. -
correct answer ✅Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Reduced hydration, loss of cartilage, and thinning of vertebrae can
all contribute to loss of stature. Decreased levels of TH, shortening
of long bones, and diet are not noted to contribute to this
phenomenon.
2. A 78-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of community-
acquired pneumonia. Potential pathological findings on a recent
,Eliopoulos Chapter 5- Common Aging
Changes Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
chest x-ray have prompted his physician to order a bronchoscopy
and lung function tests. Which of the following findings would be
most likely suggestive of pathological processes rather than normal,
age-related respiratory changes?
A) The client has fewer cilia than would be found in a younger
client.
B) Lung function tests reveal that both maximum breathing and
vital capacity are diminished since his last test.
C) There is an accumulation of serous fluid between the lungs and
the pleural membrane.
D) The lungs are smaller than younger adults' and there are fewer
alveoli. -
correct answer ✅Ans: C
Feedback:
While decreases in the number of cilia, alveoli, lung size, and lung
capacities are commonly associated with aging, an accumulation of
serous fluid would not be considered a normal consequence of the
aging process.
, Eliopoulos Chapter 5- Common Aging
Changes Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
3. An 80-year-old resident of an assisted living facility is proud of
the fact that he was an elite athlete during his younger years.
Despite his concerted efforts to remain physically active and
maintain his stamina, he is lamenting his loss of exercise tolerance
in recent years. How can his nurse best respond to these concerns?
A) "It's inevitable that your heart increases in size as you age, and
this is associated with a loss of cardiac efficiency."
B) "It's normal for your heart to contract less strongly as you age,
and this makes you somewhat less able to exercise vigorously."
C) "As you age, it's common for your heart rate becomes less
regular and this often results in fatigue."
D) "The normal increase in blood pressure that accompanies aging
leaves you with less cardiac reserve capacity than when you were
young." -
correct answer ✅Ans: B
Feedback:
Cardiac contractility decreases as a part of normal aging. An
increase in heart size, irregular heart rate, and increased blood
pressure would be considered pathological conditions regardless of
age.
