Geriatric Emergencies EMT Exam with
Questions and Correct Answers
You receive a call for a sick person. When you arrive, you find the patient, a 75-year-old male, lying
unresponsive in his bed. His respirations are slow and irregular and his pulse is slow and weak. His
daughter tells you that he fell the day before, but refused to allow her to call 9-1-1. His past medical
history is significant for hypothyroidism, deep vein thrombosis, heavy alcohol use, and liver cirrhosis.
His medications include blood thinners and vitamins. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient is
experiencing: - ✔✔a subdural hematoma.
A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune system
should make you MOST suspicious for: - ✔✔Pneumonia
In contrast to delirium, dementia: - ✔✔is usually considered irreversible.
You are dispatched to a skilled nursing care facility for an 80-year-old female with abnormal behavior.
The patient is clearly confused and asks you if you are her husband. As your partner administers oxygen
to the patient, you should: - ✔✔Determine the patient's baseline
Mental status
The purpose of the GEMS diamond is to: - ✔✔help EMS personnel remember what is different
about elderly patients.
, Which of the following statements regarding suicide in the older patient is correct? -
✔✔Older patients tend to use more lethal means than younger patients.
When assessing an older patient who has multiple bruises in various stages of healing, the EMT
should do all of the following, EXCEPT: - ✔✔Accuse a caregiver of physical abuse
Which of the following statements regarding the aging process is correct? - ✔✔The process of
aging is gradual, at the rate at which a person loses functions does not increase with age
The LEAST common cause of death in patients over 65 years of age is: - ✔✔Drug overdose
According the the GEMS Diamond, a persons activities of daily living are evaluated during the: -
✔✔Social assessment
A condition that clouds the lens of the eye is called: - ✔✔Cataract
You are called to a neatly kept residence for an 80 year old woman who lives by herself. She burned her
hand on the stove and experienced a full thickness burn. When treating this patient, it is important to
note that: - ✔✔Slowing of reflexes causes a delayed pain reaction in older people
The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function
is called: - ✔✔Dementia
A 71-year-old man with a history of hypertension and vascular disease presents with tearing
abdominal pain. His blood pressure is 80/60, his heart rate is 120 bpm, and his respirations are 28
breaths per minute. Your assessment reveals that his abdomen is rigid and distended. Considering his
medical history and vital signs, you should be most suspicious for an - ✔✔Aortic aneurysm
Which of the following is a physiologic change that occurs during the process of aging? - ✔✔A
decline in kidney function
Questions and Correct Answers
You receive a call for a sick person. When you arrive, you find the patient, a 75-year-old male, lying
unresponsive in his bed. His respirations are slow and irregular and his pulse is slow and weak. His
daughter tells you that he fell the day before, but refused to allow her to call 9-1-1. His past medical
history is significant for hypothyroidism, deep vein thrombosis, heavy alcohol use, and liver cirrhosis.
His medications include blood thinners and vitamins. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient is
experiencing: - ✔✔a subdural hematoma.
A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune system
should make you MOST suspicious for: - ✔✔Pneumonia
In contrast to delirium, dementia: - ✔✔is usually considered irreversible.
You are dispatched to a skilled nursing care facility for an 80-year-old female with abnormal behavior.
The patient is clearly confused and asks you if you are her husband. As your partner administers oxygen
to the patient, you should: - ✔✔Determine the patient's baseline
Mental status
The purpose of the GEMS diamond is to: - ✔✔help EMS personnel remember what is different
about elderly patients.
, Which of the following statements regarding suicide in the older patient is correct? -
✔✔Older patients tend to use more lethal means than younger patients.
When assessing an older patient who has multiple bruises in various stages of healing, the EMT
should do all of the following, EXCEPT: - ✔✔Accuse a caregiver of physical abuse
Which of the following statements regarding the aging process is correct? - ✔✔The process of
aging is gradual, at the rate at which a person loses functions does not increase with age
The LEAST common cause of death in patients over 65 years of age is: - ✔✔Drug overdose
According the the GEMS Diamond, a persons activities of daily living are evaluated during the: -
✔✔Social assessment
A condition that clouds the lens of the eye is called: - ✔✔Cataract
You are called to a neatly kept residence for an 80 year old woman who lives by herself. She burned her
hand on the stove and experienced a full thickness burn. When treating this patient, it is important to
note that: - ✔✔Slowing of reflexes causes a delayed pain reaction in older people
The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function
is called: - ✔✔Dementia
A 71-year-old man with a history of hypertension and vascular disease presents with tearing
abdominal pain. His blood pressure is 80/60, his heart rate is 120 bpm, and his respirations are 28
breaths per minute. Your assessment reveals that his abdomen is rigid and distended. Considering his
medical history and vital signs, you should be most suspicious for an - ✔✔Aortic aneurysm
Which of the following is a physiologic change that occurs during the process of aging? - ✔✔A
decline in kidney function
