Chapter 19 The Aging Adult

Chapter 19  The Aging Adult

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1.
A client age 71 years has recently integrated large amounts of blueberry and pomegranate juice into her diet, touting their antioxidant properties that mitigate the effects of separated high-energy electrons. The client’s actions reflect which of the following theories of aging?
A)
Free radical theory
B)
Genetic theory
C)
Cross-linkage theory
D)
Immunity theory
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Free radicals, formed during cellular metabolism, are molecules with separated high-energy electrons, which can have adverse effects on adjacent molecules. Antioxidants are purported to mitigate the effects of these free radicals. Neither the genetic theory, immunity theory, nor cross-linkage theory of aging directly addresses the potentially harmful effects of free radicals.

2.
The staff at a long-term care facility have made minimal effort to secure a shared room for a couple in their late 80s, who have been married for several decades. The manager states, “I’m sure that bedroom activity is the last thing on their mind these days.” How should the nurse best respond to the manager’s characterization of sexuality in older adults?
A)
“They might not be as active as in years past, but sexuality is still important for older people.”
B)
“It’s actually a myth that older adults have sex less often than younger adults.”
C)
“There’s no reason that we should assume they’re less interested than when they first got married.”
D)
“Their sexual activity has probably stopped by now, but they still need companionship.”
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Although sexual activity may be less frequent, the ability to perform and enjoy sexual activity lasts well into the 90s in healthy older adults. However, it is unlikely that interest remains at the same level as when the couple was first married.

3.
Which of the following assessment findings of a male client age 77 years should signal the nurse to a potentially pathologic finding, rather than a normal age-related change?
A)
The client is oriented to person and place but is unsure of the month.
B)
The client states that his urine stream is less strong than in the past.
C)
The client claims to hear high-pitched sounds less clearly than earlier in life.
D)
The client’s gait is slow and his posture appears stooped.
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Age-related physiologic changes include a weakening of bladder emptying, presbycusis, and a slow gait that may be accompanied by stooped posture. Disorientation to time, however, should always prompt the nurse to perform further assessment and should never be considered a normal accompaniment to the aging process.

4.
A home health care nurse has observed that a client 80 years of age, who has multiple chronic health problems, takes a total of 19 medications on either a scheduled or PRN (as needed) basis. How should the nurse address this client’s risk of harm from polypharmacy?
A)
Ensure that the client’s care is coordinated and encourage the primary care provider to review her medication regimen.
B)
Recommend holistic and herbal remedies to replace some of the medications.
C)
Contact the client’s local pharmacy to discuss possible changes to her medication regimen.
D)
Encourage the client to reduce her medication load by withholding some medications when she is asymptomatic.
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Polypharmacy can sometimes be addressed by conducting a thorough and coordinated review of a client’s medication regimen. It would be inappropriate and unsafe for the nurse to arbitrarily withhold some medications or to encourage the client to do so. The client’s local pharmacist is not normally able to make independent changes to the client’s medication regimen.

5.
According to the free radical theory of aging, what substance is affected by aging and causes damage?
A)
Carbohydrates
B)
Proteins
C)
Water
D)
Lipids
Ans:
D

Feedback:

Free radicals, formed during cellular metabolism, have adverse effects on adjacent molecules. Lipids (found in cell membranes, proteins, and cell organelles) are affected. Over time, irreversible damage results from the accumulated effects of this damage. Carbohydrates, proteins, and water are not affected in this way.