GALEN NUR 257 EXAMS 1–
4 – CONCEPTS OF AGING &
CHRONIC ILLNESS –
(2026/2027) ACTUAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS,
100% GUARANTEE PASS
Galen NUR 257 Exams 1–4 – Concepts of Aging &
Chronic Illness
Comprehensive Practice Exam | Questions with Bolded
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
Section 1: Geriatric Assessment & Functional Status
(Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse is performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment on a newly
admitted 82-year-old patient. Which screening tool is specifically designed to alert
the nurse to the six most common health problems in older adults: Sleep
,disorders, Problems with eating, Incontinence, Confusion, Evidence of falls, and
Skin breakdown?
A. Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living
B. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
C. SPICES screening tool
D. Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
Rationale: The SPICES tool, developed by Terry Fulmer, is an evidence-based screening
tool that serves as an alert system for the six most frequently occurring health problems
in older adults: Sleep disorders, Problems with eating or feeding, Incontinence,
Confusion, Evidence of falls, and Skin breakdown .
2. An 80-year-old patient is being discharged to home. The nurse needs to assess
the patient's ability to live independently in the community. Which assessment
tool is most appropriate for evaluating instrumental activities of daily living
(IADLs)?
A. Barthel Index
B. Katz Index of Independence in ADLs
C. Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
D. Braden Scale
Rationale: The Lawton IADL Scale measures complex skills needed for independent
community living, including managing finances, managing medications, shopping, meal
preparation, housework, telephone use, and transportation .
3. Which activities are considered basic activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A. Managing investments and transportation
B. Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
C. Shopping and managing finances only
D. Using a computer and telephone
Rationale: Basic activities of daily living include fundamental self-care tasks such as
bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating .
4. An older adult can bathe and dress independently but cannot manage
medications or finances. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A. The client is completely dependent
B. Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired
,C. The client has no functional limitations
D. The client necessarily has dementia
Rationale: IADL impairment can occur before basic self-care abilities are lost and does
not by itself establish a diagnosis of dementia .
5. Which finding requires further assessment rather than being automatically
attributed to normal aging?
A. Mildly slower movement
B. Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
C. Gray hair
D. Decreased skin elasticity
Rationale: Progressive functional decline may indicate illness or cognitive impairment
and warrants further assessment .
6. Which assessment approach is most appropriate when evaluating an older
adult?
A. Assume age-related changes explain every abnormal finding
B. Compare findings with the individual's baseline and current health status
C. Focus only on the client's chief complaint
D. Avoid asking about functional ability
Rationale: Older adults have substantial individual variation, so assessment should
distinguish expected aging changes from illness by considering baseline function and
current findings .
7. Which question best assesses an older adult's functional status?
A. "What is your favorite food?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What television programs do you watch?"
D. "What was your previous occupation?"
Rationale: Functional assessment determines the person's ability to perform activities
necessary for independent living .
8. Which activity is an instrumental activity of daily living?
A. Eating
B. Dressing
, C. Managing medications
D. Toileting
Rationale: Instrumental activities involve more complex tasks needed for independent
community living, including medication management, finances, shopping, and
transportation .
9. Which statement best describes gerontology?
A. The medical treatment of acute illness in older adults
B. The study of aging and the experiences of individuals as they grow older
C. The surgical management of age-related disorders
D. The study of childhood development
Rationale: Gerontology is the multidisciplinary study of aging, including biological,
psychological, social, and functional aspects .
10. Which term refers specifically to the biological processes associated with
growing older?
A. Geriatrics
B. Gerontology
C. Senescence
D. Rehabilitation
Rationale: Senescence refers to the progressive biological changes associated with
aging .
11. Which statement about aging is most accurate?
A. Aging is always accompanied by disease.
B. Aging is a universal process, but the rate and effects vary among individuals.
C. All older adults experience the same physical changes.
D. Functional decline is unavoidable in every older adult.
Rationale: Aging occurs in everyone, but genetic, environmental, lifestyle, social, and
health factors influence how individuals age .
12. Which concept emphasizes maintaining function and well-being as a person
grows older?
A. Healthy aging
B. Disease dependency
4 – CONCEPTS OF AGING &
CHRONIC ILLNESS –
(2026/2027) ACTUAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS,
100% GUARANTEE PASS
Galen NUR 257 Exams 1–4 – Concepts of Aging &
Chronic Illness
Comprehensive Practice Exam | Questions with Bolded
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
Section 1: Geriatric Assessment & Functional Status
(Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse is performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment on a newly
admitted 82-year-old patient. Which screening tool is specifically designed to alert
the nurse to the six most common health problems in older adults: Sleep
,disorders, Problems with eating, Incontinence, Confusion, Evidence of falls, and
Skin breakdown?
A. Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living
B. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
C. SPICES screening tool
D. Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
Rationale: The SPICES tool, developed by Terry Fulmer, is an evidence-based screening
tool that serves as an alert system for the six most frequently occurring health problems
in older adults: Sleep disorders, Problems with eating or feeding, Incontinence,
Confusion, Evidence of falls, and Skin breakdown .
2. An 80-year-old patient is being discharged to home. The nurse needs to assess
the patient's ability to live independently in the community. Which assessment
tool is most appropriate for evaluating instrumental activities of daily living
(IADLs)?
A. Barthel Index
B. Katz Index of Independence in ADLs
C. Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
D. Braden Scale
Rationale: The Lawton IADL Scale measures complex skills needed for independent
community living, including managing finances, managing medications, shopping, meal
preparation, housework, telephone use, and transportation .
3. Which activities are considered basic activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A. Managing investments and transportation
B. Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
C. Shopping and managing finances only
D. Using a computer and telephone
Rationale: Basic activities of daily living include fundamental self-care tasks such as
bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating .
4. An older adult can bathe and dress independently but cannot manage
medications or finances. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A. The client is completely dependent
B. Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired
,C. The client has no functional limitations
D. The client necessarily has dementia
Rationale: IADL impairment can occur before basic self-care abilities are lost and does
not by itself establish a diagnosis of dementia .
5. Which finding requires further assessment rather than being automatically
attributed to normal aging?
A. Mildly slower movement
B. Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
C. Gray hair
D. Decreased skin elasticity
Rationale: Progressive functional decline may indicate illness or cognitive impairment
and warrants further assessment .
6. Which assessment approach is most appropriate when evaluating an older
adult?
A. Assume age-related changes explain every abnormal finding
B. Compare findings with the individual's baseline and current health status
C. Focus only on the client's chief complaint
D. Avoid asking about functional ability
Rationale: Older adults have substantial individual variation, so assessment should
distinguish expected aging changes from illness by considering baseline function and
current findings .
7. Which question best assesses an older adult's functional status?
A. "What is your favorite food?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What television programs do you watch?"
D. "What was your previous occupation?"
Rationale: Functional assessment determines the person's ability to perform activities
necessary for independent living .
8. Which activity is an instrumental activity of daily living?
A. Eating
B. Dressing
, C. Managing medications
D. Toileting
Rationale: Instrumental activities involve more complex tasks needed for independent
community living, including medication management, finances, shopping, and
transportation .
9. Which statement best describes gerontology?
A. The medical treatment of acute illness in older adults
B. The study of aging and the experiences of individuals as they grow older
C. The surgical management of age-related disorders
D. The study of childhood development
Rationale: Gerontology is the multidisciplinary study of aging, including biological,
psychological, social, and functional aspects .
10. Which term refers specifically to the biological processes associated with
growing older?
A. Geriatrics
B. Gerontology
C. Senescence
D. Rehabilitation
Rationale: Senescence refers to the progressive biological changes associated with
aging .
11. Which statement about aging is most accurate?
A. Aging is always accompanied by disease.
B. Aging is a universal process, but the rate and effects vary among individuals.
C. All older adults experience the same physical changes.
D. Functional decline is unavoidable in every older adult.
Rationale: Aging occurs in everyone, but genetic, environmental, lifestyle, social, and
health factors influence how individuals age .
12. Which concept emphasizes maintaining function and well-being as a person
grows older?
A. Healthy aging
B. Disease dependency
