NR 601
Midterm Exam Study Guide: Foundations of Aging
and Care | Chamberlain University | Latest Updated
Version
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
❖NR 601
❖Midterm Exam Study Guide
❖Foundations of Aging and Care
❖Chamberlain University
❖Latest Updated Version
, NR601 – Primary Care of the Maturing and Aged
Exam Study Guide – Midterm Exam
Week 1: Foundations of Aging
Approaches to caring for the aging population
Overview
Older adults often have multiple chronic conditions, functional limitations, and
social challenges that affect their health.
Healthcare providers must focus not only on treating disease but also on maintaining
independence, function, and quality of life.
Older adults commonly experience:
• Multimorbidity (presence of multiple chronic diseases at the same time)
• Polypharmacy (use of multiple medications)
• Functional decline
• Cognitive impairment
• Increased vulnerability to illness
Because of these factors, care must be patient-centered and interdisciplinary
(involving multiple healthcare professionals).
Geriatric Assessment
A comprehensive geriatric assessment evaluates several important domains.
Medical Assessment
Includes evaluation of:
• Chronic diseases
• Medication use
• Sensory impairments
• Nutrition
Functional Assessment
Assesses ability to perform daily activities.
ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
Basic self-care activities:
• bathing
• dressing
• toileting
• eating
• transferring (moving from bed to chair)
IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)
More complex activities needed for independent living:
• cooking
• shopping
• managing medications
• handling finances
• transportation
Cognitive Assessment
Screens for:
1 | 39
, •Dementia (progressive loss of memory and cognitive function)
•Delirium (acute confusion caused by illness or medications)
•Depression
Common screening tools:
• Mini-Cog
• MMSE (Mini-Mental State Exam)
• MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
Social Assessment
Important factors include:
• living situation
• caregiver support
• financial resources
• access to healthcare
Goals of Geriatric Care
Primary goals include:
• preserving independence
• improving quality of life
• preventing complications
• managing chronic disease
• minimizing medication side effects
High-Yield Exam Pearls
ADLs → basic self-care
IADLs → independent living tasks
Delirium → acute confusion
Dementia → chronic progressive cognitive decline
Comprehensive geriatric assessment → evaluates medical, functional, cognitive, and
social status
Aging theories and how they affect NP practice
Biological Theories of Aging
Aging theories attempt to explain why physiologic decline occurs over time.
Free Radical Theory
Cells produce free radicals (unstable molecules that damage cellular structures)
during metabolism.
These molecules damage:
• DNA
• proteins
• cell membranes
Over time this damage contributes to aging and disease.
Telomere Theory
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of chromosomes.
Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten.
Eventually cells lose the ability to divide, leading to cellular aging and death.
Mitochondrial Theory
2 | 39
, Mitochondria (energy-producing structures inside cells) become less efficient with
age.
This leads to:
• reduced cellular energy
• increased oxidative stress
• tissue damage
Implications for NP Practice
Understanding aging biology helps guide prevention strategies.
Important focuses include:
• exercise to maintain muscle mass
• nutrition to prevent frailty
• cardiovascular risk reduction
• cognitive health maintenance
High-Yield Exam Pearls
Free radicals → cellular damage
Telomeres → shorten with aging
Mitochondria → reduced energy production with age
Lifestyle factors influence aging and disease risk
Anticipatory guidance – lifestyle, fall prevention
Overview
Anticipatory guidance means educating patients about health risks before
problems occur.
This is especially important in older adults because preventing disability is easier
than reversing it.
Lifestyle Recommendations
Physical Activity
Recommended:
• 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise
Benefits include:
• improved cardiovascular health
• improved balance
• prevention of frailty (age-related muscle weakness)
Examples:
• walking
• swimming
• resistance training
• balance exercises
Nutrition
Important recommendations include:
• adequate protein intake
• sufficient calcium
• vitamin D supplementation
These help prevent:
• osteoporosis (bone density loss)
• muscle loss
3 | 39
Midterm Exam Study Guide: Foundations of Aging
and Care | Chamberlain University | Latest Updated
Version
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
❖NR 601
❖Midterm Exam Study Guide
❖Foundations of Aging and Care
❖Chamberlain University
❖Latest Updated Version
, NR601 – Primary Care of the Maturing and Aged
Exam Study Guide – Midterm Exam
Week 1: Foundations of Aging
Approaches to caring for the aging population
Overview
Older adults often have multiple chronic conditions, functional limitations, and
social challenges that affect their health.
Healthcare providers must focus not only on treating disease but also on maintaining
independence, function, and quality of life.
Older adults commonly experience:
• Multimorbidity (presence of multiple chronic diseases at the same time)
• Polypharmacy (use of multiple medications)
• Functional decline
• Cognitive impairment
• Increased vulnerability to illness
Because of these factors, care must be patient-centered and interdisciplinary
(involving multiple healthcare professionals).
Geriatric Assessment
A comprehensive geriatric assessment evaluates several important domains.
Medical Assessment
Includes evaluation of:
• Chronic diseases
• Medication use
• Sensory impairments
• Nutrition
Functional Assessment
Assesses ability to perform daily activities.
ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
Basic self-care activities:
• bathing
• dressing
• toileting
• eating
• transferring (moving from bed to chair)
IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)
More complex activities needed for independent living:
• cooking
• shopping
• managing medications
• handling finances
• transportation
Cognitive Assessment
Screens for:
1 | 39
, •Dementia (progressive loss of memory and cognitive function)
•Delirium (acute confusion caused by illness or medications)
•Depression
Common screening tools:
• Mini-Cog
• MMSE (Mini-Mental State Exam)
• MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
Social Assessment
Important factors include:
• living situation
• caregiver support
• financial resources
• access to healthcare
Goals of Geriatric Care
Primary goals include:
• preserving independence
• improving quality of life
• preventing complications
• managing chronic disease
• minimizing medication side effects
High-Yield Exam Pearls
ADLs → basic self-care
IADLs → independent living tasks
Delirium → acute confusion
Dementia → chronic progressive cognitive decline
Comprehensive geriatric assessment → evaluates medical, functional, cognitive, and
social status
Aging theories and how they affect NP practice
Biological Theories of Aging
Aging theories attempt to explain why physiologic decline occurs over time.
Free Radical Theory
Cells produce free radicals (unstable molecules that damage cellular structures)
during metabolism.
These molecules damage:
• DNA
• proteins
• cell membranes
Over time this damage contributes to aging and disease.
Telomere Theory
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of chromosomes.
Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten.
Eventually cells lose the ability to divide, leading to cellular aging and death.
Mitochondrial Theory
2 | 39
, Mitochondria (energy-producing structures inside cells) become less efficient with
age.
This leads to:
• reduced cellular energy
• increased oxidative stress
• tissue damage
Implications for NP Practice
Understanding aging biology helps guide prevention strategies.
Important focuses include:
• exercise to maintain muscle mass
• nutrition to prevent frailty
• cardiovascular risk reduction
• cognitive health maintenance
High-Yield Exam Pearls
Free radicals → cellular damage
Telomeres → shorten with aging
Mitochondria → reduced energy production with age
Lifestyle factors influence aging and disease risk
Anticipatory guidance – lifestyle, fall prevention
Overview
Anticipatory guidance means educating patients about health risks before
problems occur.
This is especially important in older adults because preventing disability is easier
than reversing it.
Lifestyle Recommendations
Physical Activity
Recommended:
• 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise
Benefits include:
• improved cardiovascular health
• improved balance
• prevention of frailty (age-related muscle weakness)
Examples:
• walking
• swimming
• resistance training
• balance exercises
Nutrition
Important recommendations include:
• adequate protein intake
• sufficient calcium
• vitamin D supplementation
These help prevent:
• osteoporosis (bone density loss)
• muscle loss
3 | 39
