ADVANCED PRACTICE CARE OF FRAIL
ELDERS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. Which of the following criteria is part of the Fried Frailty Phenotype used to identify frailty
in older adults?
A. Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30
B. Unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds or more in the past year
C. Self-reported hyper-activity
D. High grip strength
E. None of the above
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Fried Frailty Phenotype includes five criteria: unintentional
weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, low physical activity, slowed walking speed, and
weak grip strength.
,2. When assessing an 85-year-old patient for delirium, which tool is considered the gold
standard for clinical use?
A. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
B. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
C. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
D. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is specifically
designed to identify delirium by assessing acute onset, inattention, disorganized thinking,
and altered level of consciousness.
3. According to the Beers Criteria, which medication class should be avoided in older adults
with a history of falls or fractures?
A. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
B. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
C. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
D. Calcium channel blockers
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs are associated with an increased risk of
falls and fractures in the elderly according to the Beers Criteria.
, 4. A 78-year-old patient presents with new-onset confusion and lethargy. Which is the most
likely ‘atypical’ presentation of a common condition in this demographic?
A. Acute Myocardial Infarction
B. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Congestive Heart Failure
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Older adults often present with mental status changes or
delirium as a primary symptom of a UTI, rather than typical dysuria or fever.
5. Which physiological change of aging contributes most significantly to the increased half-life
of fat-soluble drugs like diazepam?
A. Decreased total body water
B. Increased hepatic blood flow
C. Increased percentage of body fat
D. Decreased serum albumin
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: As body fat increases with age, the volume of distribution for
lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs increases, leading to a prolonged half-life.
ELDERS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. Which of the following criteria is part of the Fried Frailty Phenotype used to identify frailty
in older adults?
A. Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30
B. Unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds or more in the past year
C. Self-reported hyper-activity
D. High grip strength
E. None of the above
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Fried Frailty Phenotype includes five criteria: unintentional
weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, low physical activity, slowed walking speed, and
weak grip strength.
,2. When assessing an 85-year-old patient for delirium, which tool is considered the gold
standard for clinical use?
A. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
B. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
C. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
D. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is specifically
designed to identify delirium by assessing acute onset, inattention, disorganized thinking,
and altered level of consciousness.
3. According to the Beers Criteria, which medication class should be avoided in older adults
with a history of falls or fractures?
A. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
B. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
C. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
D. Calcium channel blockers
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs are associated with an increased risk of
falls and fractures in the elderly according to the Beers Criteria.
, 4. A 78-year-old patient presents with new-onset confusion and lethargy. Which is the most
likely ‘atypical’ presentation of a common condition in this demographic?
A. Acute Myocardial Infarction
B. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Congestive Heart Failure
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Older adults often present with mental status changes or
delirium as a primary symptom of a UTI, rather than typical dysuria or fever.
5. Which physiological change of aging contributes most significantly to the increased half-life
of fat-soluble drugs like diazepam?
A. Decreased total body water
B. Increased hepatic blood flow
C. Increased percentage of body fat
D. Decreased serum albumin
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: As body fat increases with age, the volume of distribution for
lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs increases, leading to a prolonged half-life.
