HESI Hints Only- Gerontology ALL SOLUTION LATEST 2023 EDITION LATED GRADE A+

What is a more accurate measure of age than chronological age? The ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL's). The majority of this aged 65 and older regard their health as good or excellent Chronological age may or may not correspond to: Physical, mental, social, and cultural actions and feelings Changes in the heart and lungs result in less efficient utilization of what? Of oxygen, which reduces the individual's capacity to maintain physical activity for long periods of time. Physical training for older people can significantly reduce blood pressure, and increase aerobic activity. Teaching and designing rehabilitation programs for older adults should contain which 2 things: Exercise and nutrition Old people often complain that they cannot get to sleep at night and do not sleep soundly even after they fall asleep. Why is this? This is because they have shorter stage sod sleep, particularly shorter cycles between 1 and 4 and REM sleep. Stage 4 is deep sleep. They are easily awakened by environmental stimuli. They often compensate by napping during the day which leads to further disruption of night sleep. A common response is the us elf prescription sleeping pills, which can create further problems of disorientation. Peripheral circulation increases or decreases with age? Decreases. Why is regular assessment of the feet important in the elderly? It increase the opportunity to discoed and treat skin care problems early. These problems could become more serious d/t decreased circulation Differentiation of normal and pathologic causes for skin and hair conditions is essential: Ie seborrheic keratosis vs melanomas What places an older adult at risk for the development of pressure ulcers? Impaired mobility, impaired skin integrity, decreased peripheral circulation, and lack of physical activity What are ways to help prevent or decrease the occurrence of falls? Install adequate lighting, paint the edges of stairs a bright color, place a bell on any residents cats; cats move quickly and can get underfoot, wear proper footwear that supports the foot and contributes to balance, shoes made of non slippery materials Aging and systolic and diastolic blood pressures: increase or decrease with age? Physiology of blood pressure Both SBP and DBP increase with age, but systolic increase more than the DBP. Physiology of BP: expressed as a ratio of systolic to diastolic. Systolic refers to the level of the BP during the contraction phase; whereas diastolic refers to the stage when the chambers of the heart are filling with blood. Why are dysrhythmias particularly serious in older adults? Older adults cannot tolerate decreased C.O., which can result in syncope, falls, and transient ischemia attacks. Pulse may be rapid, slow, or irregular. Angina symptoms in older adults may be confused with what kind of symptoms? Gastrointestinal symptoms. Angina symptoms may be absent or they may be confused with GI symptoms With aging, what happens to the muscles that operate the lungs? The muscles that operate the lungs lose elasticity so that respiratory efficiency is reduced. Vital capacity- the amount of air brought into lungs at one time, decreases. Breathing may become more difficult after strenuous exercise. The rate of decline has been found to be slower in more active people. The nurse should encourage older people to remain physically active for as long as possible. What makes older adults more susceptible to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pneumonia? Declining muscle strength may impair cough efficiency. What is a major cause of respiratory disability in older adults? COPD What is a major cause of death in older adults? Aspiration pneumonia What changes contribute to chronic constipation with age? The number of enzymes in the small intestine is reduced, and simple sugars are absorbed more slowly, resulting in decreases efficiency of the digestive process. The smooth muscle content and the muscle tone of the wall of the colon decrease. Anatomic changes in the large intestine result in decreased intestinal motility. Physiologic factors, as well as abuse of over the counter laxatives, are factors Decreases in fluid intake and mobility contribute to constipation Is tooth loss a normal part of the aging process? No. What can prevent tooth loss? Good dental hygiene, good nutrition, and dental care Why do older people tend to feel full before the entire meal is consumed and thus appear to eat smaller quantities of food at mealtime? This is because the digestive system of older people feature a decrease in the contraction time of the muscles, and more time is needed for the cardiac sphincter to open. Therefore, it takes more time for the food to be transmitted to the stomach. `What poses a significant concern in older adults? Poor nutrition or malnutrition. Reason for poor nutrition in older adults: Chronic illness which suppresses the appetite, hospitalization and surgery, difficulty chewing, alcohol use, cognitive changes, depression, grief, loneliness, social isolation, and problems with food procurement. What is an early sign of malnutrition? Changes in weight Why do older adults have a higher risk for development of renal failure? Because of normal age related changes result in compromised renal functioning. The nurse should pay close attention to urinary output in older clients. What is the first sign of loss of renal integrity? Decreased urinary output. What do Kegel exercises consist of? Tightening and relaxing the vaginal and urinary meatus muscles. What exercises should be done to reduce the incidence of urinary incontinence? Kegel exercises. They must be don't consistently and can be done unobtrusively at home Older adults with what medical condition may see isolation? Incontinence, which can predispose them to loneliness Why may older adults be more sensitive to caffeine and alcohol? These substances inhibit the production of ADH. An assessment of sensitivity to bladder problems is essential when planning nursing care. Older adults that live in nursing homes often suffer from difficulties with bladder control. Medication alert with older adults! What happens in renal system in older adult? As one ages, the total number of functioning glomeruli decreases, until renal function has been reduced by nearly 50%. This decrease in the filtration efficiency of the kidneys has grave implications for people who are taking medication. What are 3 important meds that are affected by the decreased filtration of the kidneys in older adults? CONTINUED..