N 3261 OA EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
The majority of older adults say that they feel irritated or angry much of the time. T or F?
- answer False - Older adults are no more angry or irritated than younger adults.
Individuals who are angry or irritated a good portion of the time while younger will
probably be individuals who are angry or irritated a good portion of the time in old age.
Over 12% of the population of the US is over the age of 65. T or F? - answer True - the
percent of older adults in the US has been steadily increasing. In fact, the percent of
individuals over 65 in the US has risen from less than 5% in 1900 to approx. 12.4% in
2007, and is expected to reach 22.9% by year 2050.
Older people tend to become more religious as they age. This is often a result of facing
their own mortality. T or F? - answer False - Level of religiosity tends to remain fairly
stable across the lifespan. Older adults do tend to be more religious than younger adults
in the US. However, as a cohort, they have always been more religious reflecting the
time and culture within which they were raised.
Pain is a natural part of the aging process. T or F? - answer False - Pain is not a natural
part of the aging process. Rather it is a sign of injury or illness. As such, pain should not
be ignored. Unfortunately, too often people will attribute pain to aging and wait too long
to seek medical help with negative outcomes.
Old age can be often characterized as a second childhood. T or F? - answer False - The
lifespan is unidirectional. Older adults are adults and should be treated as such even if
the elder is incapacitated by illness.
Reversal of roles between parent and child exists. Thus, the adult child caring for the
non-well parent may say they have taken on the role of the parent and the elder has
become the child. T or F? - answer False - This is a myth. Caring for a non-well parent is
not the equivalent to role reversal. In fact, true role reversal is seen as dysfunctional.
Most older adults have difficulty adapting to change. They tend to be set in their ways. T
or F? - answer False - Older adults are no more ridged than younger adults. This tends
to be a relatively stable personality characteristic. Thus, individuals who are rigid and
have difficulty adapting to change in young adulthood probably have these same
difficulties when they become older.
With age comes wisdom. T or F? - answer Mostly false - Wisdom is an illusive concept
and is difficult to define. Max Planck Institute defines wisdom as an "expert judgement
system in the fundamental pragmatics of life." Individuals possessing wisdom exercise
insight, judgment, self-knowledge, and the ability to effectively manage their lives. Both
,young and old possess wisdom.
Physical strength declines in old age. T or F? - answer True - Physical strength does
tend to decline with age. Of course, exercise can counteract and limit the amount of
loss. Thus, someone who is 65 and exercises regularly may be in better shape and have
greater strength than a 40 year old couch-potato.
The vast majority of older adults will at some point end up in a nursing home. T or F? -
answer False - Only about 5% of older adults reside in a long-term care facility in the US
and 24% of those are over 85 years old.
Most older adults have no desire or capacity for sexual relations and are typically
asexual. T or F? - answer False - Sexuality continues to be an important aspect of an
older adults life. People continue to be sexual beings and enjoy sexual relationships
through late adulthood. Sexuality is not just biological; it includes expression of feelings
and self in a variety of ways in an intimate relationship.
The majority of older adults say that they are happy most of the time. T or F? - answer
Ture - the majority of older adults report high levels of life satisfaction. The more socially
active an individual is, the higher their life satisfaction. Health is also correlated with life
satisfaction. Individuals of any age who are poor in health are likely to experience lower
levels of life satisfaction.
Chronological age is the most important determinant of someone's age. T or F? - answer
False - Individuals age in many different ways and the least important of those is
chronological age. More important is functional age including: psychological age, social
age, and physiological/biological age.
The majority of older adults will become senile during old age. T or F? - answer False -
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Only 2-3% of older adults in their seventies,
5-10% in their eighties and 20-30% in their nineties will experience some form of
dementia either mild or severe.
About 80% of older people say they are healthy enough to carry out their normal daily
activities independently. T or F? - answer True - Not only are older adults not
significantly more dependent than young adults, but they are also highly capable of
engaging in professional activities, work and new careers. One in three individuals over
75 are involved in volunteerism.
Most older adults are rejected by their children. T or F? - answer False - Close families
do not fall apart simply because the parent has aged. More than 70% of older adults
have adult children in close proximity (30 miles).
Retirement is detrimental to an individual's health. "Retirement killed him!" T or F? -
answer False - For most older adults, retirement is a positive experience especially for
those that planned for it. Those that die shortly after retirement die as a result of
disease.
,Most older adults have incomes below poverty level. T or F? - answer False - The
majority of older adults live above the poverty level.
Rarely does someone over the age of 65 produce great work of art, science, or
scholarship. T or F? - answer False - One study demonstrated that people in their sixties
are the most productive: historians, botanists, inventors, philosophers, and writers.
Intelligence tends to decline with old age. T or F? - answer Mostly false - Most do not
experience any decline in intellectual abilities with age. Some may experience decline
due to illness and disease. Poverty can impact intelligence for young and old.
The majority of older adults say that they are lonely. T or F? - answer False - Loneliness
is one of the greatest fears that people associate with older age, yet over 2/3 of older
adults report being rarely or if ever lonely. It seems to match with the young. Those
living in small towns tend to be less lonely than those living in urban areas.
Older adults are incapable of learning new information. T or F? - answer False - Older
adults may take a little longer and use different strategies to learn but are capable of
learning new information (i.e. technology).
Physical handicaps are the primary factors limiting the activities of older adults. T or F?
- answer False - The biggest handicap facing older adults is stereotyping. Stereotyping
and ageism serve to limit the activities and opportunities available to an older adult (i.e.
higher education, work, dress, etc.)
Declines in all five senses normally occur with age. T or F? - answer Mostly true - For the
most part, all five senses decline in old age for individuals living in the US.
Most older adults tend to be preoccupied with death. T or F? - answer False - Death is an
inevitable factor of life. In general, older adults are less anxious and are more
matter-of-fact about death. As one moves through the life span, they lose friends and
family members, and begin to accept their own mortality which enables them to speak
more freely about death and dying.
The huge increase in longevity during the last century was due mainly to:
1. advancements in the war on infectious disease through development of
immunizations and antibiotics.
, 2. development of the CAT scan machine resulting in improved diagnostics.
3. development of chemotherapy resulting in better survival rates for cancer patients.
4. development of hemodialysis machine which prolonged life for end stage renal
patients. - answer 1. advancements in the war on infectious disease through
development of immunizations and antibiotics.
Life expectancy is a measure of:
1. how long a marriage will last.
2. the length of time it takes to reach maturity.
3. how long it takes for cells to die.
4. overall health status of a population. - answer 4. overall health status of a population.
The nurse is completing discharge instructions for an 88-year-old patient who is being
discharged from the hospital following a myocardial infarction. She provides him with
written literature on heart healthy diets, exercise, and smoking cessation. His daughter
states, "I don't know why you are bothering, what difference is it going to make? He
has been smoking and eating poorly for years; he isn't going to change now." This
statement reflects the concept of:
1. reality orientation.
2. character assessment.
3. negative stereotyping.
4. senescence. - answer 3. negative stereotyping
Which is true about health care disparities among older adults?
1. Older adults of color have equal risk factors for vulnerability as all older adults.
2. Older adults of color have equal risk factors for vulnerability as young adults of the
same ethnic group.
3. Older females of color have increased risk factors for vulnerability than do older
males of the same ethnic group.
4. Health care disparities are only seen in older adults of color who receive care in
CORRECT ANSWERS
The majority of older adults say that they feel irritated or angry much of the time. T or F?
- answer False - Older adults are no more angry or irritated than younger adults.
Individuals who are angry or irritated a good portion of the time while younger will
probably be individuals who are angry or irritated a good portion of the time in old age.
Over 12% of the population of the US is over the age of 65. T or F? - answer True - the
percent of older adults in the US has been steadily increasing. In fact, the percent of
individuals over 65 in the US has risen from less than 5% in 1900 to approx. 12.4% in
2007, and is expected to reach 22.9% by year 2050.
Older people tend to become more religious as they age. This is often a result of facing
their own mortality. T or F? - answer False - Level of religiosity tends to remain fairly
stable across the lifespan. Older adults do tend to be more religious than younger adults
in the US. However, as a cohort, they have always been more religious reflecting the
time and culture within which they were raised.
Pain is a natural part of the aging process. T or F? - answer False - Pain is not a natural
part of the aging process. Rather it is a sign of injury or illness. As such, pain should not
be ignored. Unfortunately, too often people will attribute pain to aging and wait too long
to seek medical help with negative outcomes.
Old age can be often characterized as a second childhood. T or F? - answer False - The
lifespan is unidirectional. Older adults are adults and should be treated as such even if
the elder is incapacitated by illness.
Reversal of roles between parent and child exists. Thus, the adult child caring for the
non-well parent may say they have taken on the role of the parent and the elder has
become the child. T or F? - answer False - This is a myth. Caring for a non-well parent is
not the equivalent to role reversal. In fact, true role reversal is seen as dysfunctional.
Most older adults have difficulty adapting to change. They tend to be set in their ways. T
or F? - answer False - Older adults are no more ridged than younger adults. This tends
to be a relatively stable personality characteristic. Thus, individuals who are rigid and
have difficulty adapting to change in young adulthood probably have these same
difficulties when they become older.
With age comes wisdom. T or F? - answer Mostly false - Wisdom is an illusive concept
and is difficult to define. Max Planck Institute defines wisdom as an "expert judgement
system in the fundamental pragmatics of life." Individuals possessing wisdom exercise
insight, judgment, self-knowledge, and the ability to effectively manage their lives. Both
,young and old possess wisdom.
Physical strength declines in old age. T or F? - answer True - Physical strength does
tend to decline with age. Of course, exercise can counteract and limit the amount of
loss. Thus, someone who is 65 and exercises regularly may be in better shape and have
greater strength than a 40 year old couch-potato.
The vast majority of older adults will at some point end up in a nursing home. T or F? -
answer False - Only about 5% of older adults reside in a long-term care facility in the US
and 24% of those are over 85 years old.
Most older adults have no desire or capacity for sexual relations and are typically
asexual. T or F? - answer False - Sexuality continues to be an important aspect of an
older adults life. People continue to be sexual beings and enjoy sexual relationships
through late adulthood. Sexuality is not just biological; it includes expression of feelings
and self in a variety of ways in an intimate relationship.
The majority of older adults say that they are happy most of the time. T or F? - answer
Ture - the majority of older adults report high levels of life satisfaction. The more socially
active an individual is, the higher their life satisfaction. Health is also correlated with life
satisfaction. Individuals of any age who are poor in health are likely to experience lower
levels of life satisfaction.
Chronological age is the most important determinant of someone's age. T or F? - answer
False - Individuals age in many different ways and the least important of those is
chronological age. More important is functional age including: psychological age, social
age, and physiological/biological age.
The majority of older adults will become senile during old age. T or F? - answer False -
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Only 2-3% of older adults in their seventies,
5-10% in their eighties and 20-30% in their nineties will experience some form of
dementia either mild or severe.
About 80% of older people say they are healthy enough to carry out their normal daily
activities independently. T or F? - answer True - Not only are older adults not
significantly more dependent than young adults, but they are also highly capable of
engaging in professional activities, work and new careers. One in three individuals over
75 are involved in volunteerism.
Most older adults are rejected by their children. T or F? - answer False - Close families
do not fall apart simply because the parent has aged. More than 70% of older adults
have adult children in close proximity (30 miles).
Retirement is detrimental to an individual's health. "Retirement killed him!" T or F? -
answer False - For most older adults, retirement is a positive experience especially for
those that planned for it. Those that die shortly after retirement die as a result of
disease.
,Most older adults have incomes below poverty level. T or F? - answer False - The
majority of older adults live above the poverty level.
Rarely does someone over the age of 65 produce great work of art, science, or
scholarship. T or F? - answer False - One study demonstrated that people in their sixties
are the most productive: historians, botanists, inventors, philosophers, and writers.
Intelligence tends to decline with old age. T or F? - answer Mostly false - Most do not
experience any decline in intellectual abilities with age. Some may experience decline
due to illness and disease. Poverty can impact intelligence for young and old.
The majority of older adults say that they are lonely. T or F? - answer False - Loneliness
is one of the greatest fears that people associate with older age, yet over 2/3 of older
adults report being rarely or if ever lonely. It seems to match with the young. Those
living in small towns tend to be less lonely than those living in urban areas.
Older adults are incapable of learning new information. T or F? - answer False - Older
adults may take a little longer and use different strategies to learn but are capable of
learning new information (i.e. technology).
Physical handicaps are the primary factors limiting the activities of older adults. T or F?
- answer False - The biggest handicap facing older adults is stereotyping. Stereotyping
and ageism serve to limit the activities and opportunities available to an older adult (i.e.
higher education, work, dress, etc.)
Declines in all five senses normally occur with age. T or F? - answer Mostly true - For the
most part, all five senses decline in old age for individuals living in the US.
Most older adults tend to be preoccupied with death. T or F? - answer False - Death is an
inevitable factor of life. In general, older adults are less anxious and are more
matter-of-fact about death. As one moves through the life span, they lose friends and
family members, and begin to accept their own mortality which enables them to speak
more freely about death and dying.
The huge increase in longevity during the last century was due mainly to:
1. advancements in the war on infectious disease through development of
immunizations and antibiotics.
, 2. development of the CAT scan machine resulting in improved diagnostics.
3. development of chemotherapy resulting in better survival rates for cancer patients.
4. development of hemodialysis machine which prolonged life for end stage renal
patients. - answer 1. advancements in the war on infectious disease through
development of immunizations and antibiotics.
Life expectancy is a measure of:
1. how long a marriage will last.
2. the length of time it takes to reach maturity.
3. how long it takes for cells to die.
4. overall health status of a population. - answer 4. overall health status of a population.
The nurse is completing discharge instructions for an 88-year-old patient who is being
discharged from the hospital following a myocardial infarction. She provides him with
written literature on heart healthy diets, exercise, and smoking cessation. His daughter
states, "I don't know why you are bothering, what difference is it going to make? He
has been smoking and eating poorly for years; he isn't going to change now." This
statement reflects the concept of:
1. reality orientation.
2. character assessment.
3. negative stereotyping.
4. senescence. - answer 3. negative stereotyping
Which is true about health care disparities among older adults?
1. Older adults of color have equal risk factors for vulnerability as all older adults.
2. Older adults of color have equal risk factors for vulnerability as young adults of the
same ethnic group.
3. Older females of color have increased risk factors for vulnerability than do older
males of the same ethnic group.
4. Health care disparities are only seen in older adults of color who receive care in
