ADULT-GERONTOLOGY EXAM REVIEW
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
●● 10 Categories of Barthel Index of ADLs. Answer: Feeding, mobility,
personal grooming, toileting, urinary control, fecal control, ascending
and descending stairs, ambulatory status on level ground, transferring
and sitting up in bed, bathing.
●● Cardiovascular changes with aging. Answer: reduction in ability of
the cardiovascular system to pump blood.
decrease in oxygen delivery.
Reduced cardiac output causes circulation time to increase.
left ventricle may enlarge
baroreceptor response may decrease
Diastolic dysfunction may be evident
Reduction in the resting and maximal heart rates
Atria may enlarge
A-fib, Aflutter, CHF
●● Neurological changes with aging. Answer: Number of nerve cells in
the brain and spinal cord decreases.
slight reduction in brain mass.
,loss of neurons occurs particularly in the frontal lobes.
decrease in cerebral blood flow.
short term memory loss may occur.
Cognitive processes are not usually affected unless underlying brain
disease.
skeletal muscles may atrophy.
Ability of peripheral nerves to repair themselves is reduced.
Slower reflexes.
Reduced perspiration
●● Pulmonary changes with aging. Answer: Decrease in elasticity of the
lungs.
between 40 and 70 maximum breathing capacity decreases by about
40%.
Alveoli flatten and the alveolar ducts enlarge.
Air tends to stay in alveolar ducts rather than in alveoli.
Decrease in efficiency of oxygen exchange.
Increase in residual volume of the lungs.
Reduction in forced expiratory volume (FEV) and forced vital capacity
(FVC).
Decrease in overall strength, less able to breathe deeply.
cough reflex is reduced.
ciliary action decreases.
, Protective laryngeal reflexes may be lost.
total lung capacity does not change.
●● Eyes with aging. Answer: eyes: cloouding of lens as cells die and
accumulate.
cataract incidence is >50% by age 80.
Difficulty focusing
Decreased night vision
Increased photophobia
Tend to become farsighted
●● Kidney and Bladder with aging. Answer: Kidneys are less efficient at
removing wastes from blood
Bladder capacity declines,often resulting in frequency and urgency.
●● Fat with aging. Answer: body fat increases until middle age,
stablizes, and decreases in older age.
Fat is redistributed from skin to deeper organs, usually to the abdomen
rather than the hips.
●● Muscles with aging. Answer: Between ages 30 and 70, males lose
23% of muscle mass and females 22% without compensatory exercise.
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
●● 10 Categories of Barthel Index of ADLs. Answer: Feeding, mobility,
personal grooming, toileting, urinary control, fecal control, ascending
and descending stairs, ambulatory status on level ground, transferring
and sitting up in bed, bathing.
●● Cardiovascular changes with aging. Answer: reduction in ability of
the cardiovascular system to pump blood.
decrease in oxygen delivery.
Reduced cardiac output causes circulation time to increase.
left ventricle may enlarge
baroreceptor response may decrease
Diastolic dysfunction may be evident
Reduction in the resting and maximal heart rates
Atria may enlarge
A-fib, Aflutter, CHF
●● Neurological changes with aging. Answer: Number of nerve cells in
the brain and spinal cord decreases.
slight reduction in brain mass.
,loss of neurons occurs particularly in the frontal lobes.
decrease in cerebral blood flow.
short term memory loss may occur.
Cognitive processes are not usually affected unless underlying brain
disease.
skeletal muscles may atrophy.
Ability of peripheral nerves to repair themselves is reduced.
Slower reflexes.
Reduced perspiration
●● Pulmonary changes with aging. Answer: Decrease in elasticity of the
lungs.
between 40 and 70 maximum breathing capacity decreases by about
40%.
Alveoli flatten and the alveolar ducts enlarge.
Air tends to stay in alveolar ducts rather than in alveoli.
Decrease in efficiency of oxygen exchange.
Increase in residual volume of the lungs.
Reduction in forced expiratory volume (FEV) and forced vital capacity
(FVC).
Decrease in overall strength, less able to breathe deeply.
cough reflex is reduced.
ciliary action decreases.
, Protective laryngeal reflexes may be lost.
total lung capacity does not change.
●● Eyes with aging. Answer: eyes: cloouding of lens as cells die and
accumulate.
cataract incidence is >50% by age 80.
Difficulty focusing
Decreased night vision
Increased photophobia
Tend to become farsighted
●● Kidney and Bladder with aging. Answer: Kidneys are less efficient at
removing wastes from blood
Bladder capacity declines,often resulting in frequency and urgency.
●● Fat with aging. Answer: body fat increases until middle age,
stablizes, and decreases in older age.
Fat is redistributed from skin to deeper organs, usually to the abdomen
rather than the hips.
●● Muscles with aging. Answer: Between ages 30 and 70, males lose
23% of muscle mass and females 22% without compensatory exercise.
