Nokea
A nursing instructor teaching a gerontology class to nursing students discusses myths related to the aging of adults. Which statement will the students identify as a myth about older adults?
- A. Most older adults live in their own homes.
- B. Healthy older adults enjoy sexual activity.
- C. Aging results in mental deterioration.
- D. Older adults want to be attractive to others.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The myth that aging results in mental deterioration is incorrect, as intelligence does not normally decrease with aging, though response time may be slower. Most older adults do live in their own homes, healthy older adults enjoy sexual activity, and older adults often want to be attractive to others.
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A nurse providing health services for a community setting for people age 55 years and older considers health problems for these residents. Which of the following problems is most appropriate for many middle-aged adults?
- A. Adequate nutrition
- B. Mental health problems
- C. Abuse
- D. Caregiver role strain
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Many middle-aged adults help care for aging parents, leading to caregiver role strain due to 24-hour care responsibilities over extended periods. Nutritional issues are more common in childhood or older adulthood, while mental health problems and abuse can occur across age groups but are less specific to middle-aged adults.
A nurse caring for an older adult living in a long-term care facility uses reminiscence to help the patient adapt to the changes of aging. The nurse uses which question to encourage reminiscence?
- A. Tell me about how you celebrated Christmas when you were young.
- B. Tell me how you plan to spend your time this weekend.
- C. Did you enjoy the choral group that performed here yesterday?
- D. Why don't you want to talk about your feelings?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Use of life review or reminiscence encourages reflection on past experiences, helping older adults adapt to life circumstances. Asking about past celebrations, like Christmas, promotes reminiscence, while questions about recent events, future plans, or feelings are less likely to encourage this process.
A patient is admitted to the acute care medical center with change in mental status, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances. Which of these reflects a reversible cause of the changes in mental status?
- A. Alzheimer's disease
- B. Delirium
- C. Dementia
- D. Delirium superimposed on dementia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium is a reversible cause of changes in mental status, often triggered by factors like dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, which can be treated. Alzheimer's disease and dementia are progressive and irreversible, while delirium superimposed on dementia includes a reversible component (delirium) but is complicated by underlying irreversible dementia.
A nurse caring for older adults in a provider's office researches aging theories to help determine why some people age more rapidly than others. Which statements describe the immunity theory of the aging process? Select all that apply.
- A. Immunosenescence likely promotes the increase in infections in the older adult.
- B. Free radicals have adverse effects on adjacent molecules.
- C. Decreases in size and function of the thymus result in more infections.
- D. Nutrition likely plays an important role in maintaining the immune response.
- E. Lifespan depends to a great extent on genetic factors.
- F. Organisms wear out from increased metabolic functioning.
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Rationale: The immunity theory of aging focuses on the functions of the immune system and states that the immune response declines steadily after younger adulthood as the thymus loses size and function, resulting in more infections. Vitamin supplements (such as vitamin E) may improve immune function. Free radicals are part of the free radical theory, not the immunity theory. The genetic theory of aging holds that lifespan depends on genetic factors. The wear-and-tear theory suggests organisms wear out from increased metabolic functioning.
A nurse researcher interviews adults to validate Erikson's theory that middle-aged adults who do not achieve their developmental tasks may be in the stage of stagnation. Which patient statement will the nurse correlate to this theory?
- A. I am helping my parents move into an assisted-living facility.
- B. I spend all of my time going to the doctor to be sure I am not sick.
- C. I have enough money to help my son and his wife when they need it.
- D. I earned this gray hair and I like it!
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Erikson, middle adulthood involves generativity versus stagnation. The tasks include guiding the next generation and adjusting to aging parents. A statement indicating excessive concern about personal health, such as spending all time at the doctor, reflects stagnation, where the individual becomes self-absorbed rather than generative.