STUDY GUIDE for Care of the Older Adult Objective Assessment
Exam questions are taken from the Learning Objectives under the 9 Competencies:
#1 Competency 742.1.1: Compassionate and Respectful Care of Older Adults
Key Concepts:
The student should be familiar with the growing aging population and the impact this
group will have on the healthcare system. Baby boomers have unique characteristics that
can mean challenges for healthcare professionals.
Because of the large number of older adults, there is a greater representation of the top
five racial groups in the United States. The student should be generally familiar with these
specific cultural groups and their perceptions regarding health care, wellness, and disease.
The student should be able to demonstrate an ability to provide culturally sensitive care.
Aging can cause physiological, psychological and social changes. These changes may affect
how older adults communicate and understand. The student should be able to identify
these age-related changes that may affect therapeutic communication.
There are several ways nurses can communicate or assist patients with disabilities such as
hearing deficits, vision impairments, or aphasia and dysarthria. Hearing aids and other
available assistive listening devices can aid the patient in maintaining a healthy quality of
life. The student should be familiar with the different forms of technology and be able to
connect the patient to the appropriate resources.
Hearing aids are some of the most common and economical devices used by people with
hearing deficits. Consider the types of hearing aids that would best suit the older adult.
Some patients have several deficits that affect their communication abilities. Consider
patients who are post-CVA, have traumatic brain injuries or paralysis, and what technology
could assist them for more effective communication abilities.
Communication may also stem from language and cultural differences.
#2 Competency 742.1.2: Health Promotion/Maintenance and Living Environments of Older
Adults
Many older adults use tobacco and alcohol, and may abuse these substances. The
student should be aware of the recommended approaches for tobacco cessation, and
alcoholism identification and prevention.
Because of the vulnerability of frail older adults, there are specific
recommendations for preventative measures such as flu and pneumococcal
vaccines. Students should be familiar with these recommendations.
Elder abuse is often referred to as a silent crime, with many cases going unreported.
Because of this, the student should be able to recognize the classic cues indicating that
abuse may have occurred with their elderly adult patients. There are many factors that
contribute to the risk for abuse or neglect. Students should be aware of their local
protocols when abuse or neglect is suspected.
This study source was downloaded by 100000852681095 from CourseHero.com on 12-05-2022 04:18:22 GMT -06:00
The Healthy People Initiatives for 2000 and 2010 have specific differences due to the
https://www.coursehero.com/file/104977382/STUDY-GUIDE-for-Care-of-the-Older-Adult-Objective-Assessmentpdf/
, focus shifting from treatment to prevention. Compare these initiatives and note the
changes in the objectives as well as the outcome goals.
Several assessment tools have been developed that are specifically geared toward older
adults. Functional, physical and mental assessments each have tools respectively unique
to them. The student should be able to recognize the assessment tools and what
outcome each tool will produce when used to assess the status of an older adult.
#3 Competency 742.1.3: Health Needs of Older Adults
There are three types of assessments: Physical, Cognitive, and Functional.
- Physical assessment is for assessing the patient's physical health. It includes vital
signs, assessing for pain, blood pressure problems, irregular heartbeat, abnormal
breath sounds, etc. You should know these, because as a nurse you must always
assess the patient. For older adults, cognitive function should also be assessed.
- Functional assessment is for assessing what older adults can still do for
themselves. Bathing, eating, getting dressed, brushing their teeth; all are
functional abilities. These abilities can be compromised due to physical
impairment and illness. Dr. Katz and Dr. Barthel developed ADL/IADL indexes to
measure a patient's functional abilities. You should have noticed that ADL is
used throughout the book. This is because the ADL index can determine a
patient's care plan. It determines whether patients are safe in their current
environments, and impacts their ability to participate in health promotion and
disease prevention.
- Cognitive assessment addresses thought processing, thinking and reasoning
skills. Explain the normal cognitive changes as a result of aging. Dementia is not
normal. Describe the difference between delirium and dementia.
Describe the use and purpose of the various special tools that have been proven to
produce accurate results for assessment of the older adult. Explain the acronyms for the
tools CAM, MMSE, CDT, and SPICES.
Describe the pain assessment tools, and explain how unrelieved pain can lead to
prolonged hospitalization.
Explain CDT (Clock Drawing Test), commonly done with the Mini-Cog evaluation.
Physiological age-related changes make the older adult more susceptible to adverse
drug reactions. There are some key important factors to address when assessing
medication and the older adult
- Five Rights of Medication Administration
- The most common drugs that alter lab results
- Polypharmacy - why is the older adult more apt to polypharmacy?
- BEER’s List of Inappropriate drugs to use in older adults
This study source was downloaded by 100000852681095 from CourseHero.com on 12-05-2022 04:18:22 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/104977382/STUDY-GUIDE-for-Care-of-the-Older-Adult-Objective-Assessmentpdf/
Exam questions are taken from the Learning Objectives under the 9 Competencies:
#1 Competency 742.1.1: Compassionate and Respectful Care of Older Adults
Key Concepts:
The student should be familiar with the growing aging population and the impact this
group will have on the healthcare system. Baby boomers have unique characteristics that
can mean challenges for healthcare professionals.
Because of the large number of older adults, there is a greater representation of the top
five racial groups in the United States. The student should be generally familiar with these
specific cultural groups and their perceptions regarding health care, wellness, and disease.
The student should be able to demonstrate an ability to provide culturally sensitive care.
Aging can cause physiological, psychological and social changes. These changes may affect
how older adults communicate and understand. The student should be able to identify
these age-related changes that may affect therapeutic communication.
There are several ways nurses can communicate or assist patients with disabilities such as
hearing deficits, vision impairments, or aphasia and dysarthria. Hearing aids and other
available assistive listening devices can aid the patient in maintaining a healthy quality of
life. The student should be familiar with the different forms of technology and be able to
connect the patient to the appropriate resources.
Hearing aids are some of the most common and economical devices used by people with
hearing deficits. Consider the types of hearing aids that would best suit the older adult.
Some patients have several deficits that affect their communication abilities. Consider
patients who are post-CVA, have traumatic brain injuries or paralysis, and what technology
could assist them for more effective communication abilities.
Communication may also stem from language and cultural differences.
#2 Competency 742.1.2: Health Promotion/Maintenance and Living Environments of Older
Adults
Many older adults use tobacco and alcohol, and may abuse these substances. The
student should be aware of the recommended approaches for tobacco cessation, and
alcoholism identification and prevention.
Because of the vulnerability of frail older adults, there are specific
recommendations for preventative measures such as flu and pneumococcal
vaccines. Students should be familiar with these recommendations.
Elder abuse is often referred to as a silent crime, with many cases going unreported.
Because of this, the student should be able to recognize the classic cues indicating that
abuse may have occurred with their elderly adult patients. There are many factors that
contribute to the risk for abuse or neglect. Students should be aware of their local
protocols when abuse or neglect is suspected.
This study source was downloaded by 100000852681095 from CourseHero.com on 12-05-2022 04:18:22 GMT -06:00
The Healthy People Initiatives for 2000 and 2010 have specific differences due to the
https://www.coursehero.com/file/104977382/STUDY-GUIDE-for-Care-of-the-Older-Adult-Objective-Assessmentpdf/
, focus shifting from treatment to prevention. Compare these initiatives and note the
changes in the objectives as well as the outcome goals.
Several assessment tools have been developed that are specifically geared toward older
adults. Functional, physical and mental assessments each have tools respectively unique
to them. The student should be able to recognize the assessment tools and what
outcome each tool will produce when used to assess the status of an older adult.
#3 Competency 742.1.3: Health Needs of Older Adults
There are three types of assessments: Physical, Cognitive, and Functional.
- Physical assessment is for assessing the patient's physical health. It includes vital
signs, assessing for pain, blood pressure problems, irregular heartbeat, abnormal
breath sounds, etc. You should know these, because as a nurse you must always
assess the patient. For older adults, cognitive function should also be assessed.
- Functional assessment is for assessing what older adults can still do for
themselves. Bathing, eating, getting dressed, brushing their teeth; all are
functional abilities. These abilities can be compromised due to physical
impairment and illness. Dr. Katz and Dr. Barthel developed ADL/IADL indexes to
measure a patient's functional abilities. You should have noticed that ADL is
used throughout the book. This is because the ADL index can determine a
patient's care plan. It determines whether patients are safe in their current
environments, and impacts their ability to participate in health promotion and
disease prevention.
- Cognitive assessment addresses thought processing, thinking and reasoning
skills. Explain the normal cognitive changes as a result of aging. Dementia is not
normal. Describe the difference between delirium and dementia.
Describe the use and purpose of the various special tools that have been proven to
produce accurate results for assessment of the older adult. Explain the acronyms for the
tools CAM, MMSE, CDT, and SPICES.
Describe the pain assessment tools, and explain how unrelieved pain can lead to
prolonged hospitalization.
Explain CDT (Clock Drawing Test), commonly done with the Mini-Cog evaluation.
Physiological age-related changes make the older adult more susceptible to adverse
drug reactions. There are some key important factors to address when assessing
medication and the older adult
- Five Rights of Medication Administration
- The most common drugs that alter lab results
- Polypharmacy - why is the older adult more apt to polypharmacy?
- BEER’s List of Inappropriate drugs to use in older adults
This study source was downloaded by 100000852681095 from CourseHero.com on 12-05-2022 04:18:22 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/104977382/STUDY-GUIDE-for-Care-of-the-Older-Adult-Objective-Assessmentpdf/
