WGU Study Guide for Care of the Older Adult
C475. 2024-2025 Edition. All Questions & Correct
Answers. Already Graded A+.
- Five Rights of Medication Administration - ANSright patient, right drug ,right dose, right
route, right time
3 types of assessments: Physical , Cognitive and Functional - ANSPhysical - assess
physical health. It includes VS, assess for pain, BP problems, irregular heartbeat,
abnormal breath sounds, etc.
Functional - assessing what the older adult can still do for him or herself. Bathing,
eating, dressing, etc.
Cognitive - addresses thought processing, thinking and reasoning skills.
Normal cognitive changes - Decline in information processing speed, divided attention,
sustained attention, ability to perform visuospatial tasks, and short-term memory.
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communications - ANSrefers to all forms of
communication that enhances or supplements speech and writing. AAC can enhance
(augment) and replace (alternate) conventional forms of expression for people who can
not communicate through speech, writing or gestures.
active aging - ANSbased on the human rights of older people - principles of
independence, participation, dignity, care and self fulfillment
adherence in low literacy patients - ANScolor code medication bottles or use organizer
that separates daily doses into morning, noon, evening and night
ADL's vs IADL's - ANSADL - Activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing,
transferring, walking, eating, and continence.
IADL - Activities R/T independent living such as meal preparation, money mgmt.,
shopping, housework, telephone use.
African Americans - ANS2nd larges minority populations.
religion/spirituality plays important role in health and wellness.
Equate good luck, good fortune, and good health with being right with God.
Closer ties with extended families and rely on their close family ties for support.
Distrustful of health care personnel
African Americans - top five health disparities - ANSgonorrhea,
congenital syphilis,
new cases of AIDS,
,deaths due to HIV infection.
Age related changes which may affect therapeutic communication - ANSVisual acuity
Hearing loss
Speech and language difficulties
Ageism - ANSprejudice towards elderly
Among older adults living in the community, when and where do most falls occur? -
ANSmost falls occur during usual activities such as walking. Indoor falls occur most
often in the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.
Analyze a given policy or legislative act that promotes or hinders the independence and
autonomy of older adults. - ANSPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act - eliminates
lifetime limits for health insurance coverage for essential services, eliminates the ability
of insurance companies to rescind coverage, free preventative care, development of a
prevention and public health fund, increases access to affordable care, and quality
improvement and risk reduction.
Asian Americans - ANSstill practice holistic (naturalistic) medicine and may incorporate
this as an adjunct to Western medicine.
Majority of influence comes from Confucianism Follows a naturalistic perspective,
defining health and illness as a balance between the individual and the world around the
individual.
Treatments may involve - acupuncture, moxibustion (burning of herbal leaves on or
near the body), cupping (the use of warmed glass jars to create suction on certain parts
of the body), massage, herbal remedies, movement and concentration exercises (tai
chi)
Some elders may forgo life sustaining treatment because of the principles of ren. Ren is
the golden rule of Chines decision making "Do not do to others what you do not want
done to yourself".
Asian Americans - top 5 disparities - ANSnew cases of TB, congenital syphilis, no pap
test among females > 18, exposure to particulate matter, and carbon monoxide
exposure
Assistive technology is designed to fill the patient's gap in functional ability. This goes
back to the ADLs and IADLs. What can they do and what can they not do. Can we put
something in place to help them? - ANSany item, piece of equipment or product system,
that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with
disabilities.
, AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - ANS10 item screening test
developed by the World Health Organization and is sensitive for deterring alcohol
dependence and abuse
Baby Boomers - ANSlarge group of people born between 1946-1964. Considered more
affluent, better educated and healthier. Baby boomers have entered the older age group
as of 2011
Baby Boomers unique characteristics that make them a challenge for healthcare
professionals - ANSexpect and demand excellence in geriatric care. Health disparities
exist among minority elder group.
Barthel Index - ANSdesigned to measure functional levels of self-care and mobility, and
it rates the ability to feed and groom oneself, bathe, go to the toilet, walk (or propel a
wheelchair), climb stairs, and control bowel and bladder.
A detailed assessment will provide information for appropriate nursing interventions,
that is, those designed to promote ability and compensate for and prevent further
disability for that individual.
BEER's List of Inappropriate drugs to use in older adults - ANSBenzodiazepines are
mentioned quite a bit.
Amitriptyline (Elavil), chlordiazepoxide-amitriptyline (Limbitrol), and perphenazine-
amytriptyline (Triavil) Strong anticholinergic and sedation effects
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) May cause confusion and sedation;
All barbiturates, except when used to control seizures Highly addictive,
Meperidine (Demerol) May cause confusion
Short-acting nifedipine (Procardia and Adalat) Potential hypotension and constipation
Clonidine (Catapres) Potential for orthostatic hypotension and CNS adverse effects
Mineral oil Potential for aspiration and adverse effects;
Methocarbamol (Robaxin), carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxaxone (Paraflex),
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), oxybutynin (Ditropan) Anticholinergic effects, sedation,
weakness
Short-acting dipyridamole (Persantine) Orthostatic hypotension
Methyldopa (Aldomet) and methyldopa-hydrochlorothiazide (Aldoril) May cause
bradycardia and exacerbate depression in older adults
Care Transitions four conceptual domains/pillars - ANSMedication self management
Use patient centered health record
PCP/Specialist follow up
C475. 2024-2025 Edition. All Questions & Correct
Answers. Already Graded A+.
- Five Rights of Medication Administration - ANSright patient, right drug ,right dose, right
route, right time
3 types of assessments: Physical , Cognitive and Functional - ANSPhysical - assess
physical health. It includes VS, assess for pain, BP problems, irregular heartbeat,
abnormal breath sounds, etc.
Functional - assessing what the older adult can still do for him or herself. Bathing,
eating, dressing, etc.
Cognitive - addresses thought processing, thinking and reasoning skills.
Normal cognitive changes - Decline in information processing speed, divided attention,
sustained attention, ability to perform visuospatial tasks, and short-term memory.
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communications - ANSrefers to all forms of
communication that enhances or supplements speech and writing. AAC can enhance
(augment) and replace (alternate) conventional forms of expression for people who can
not communicate through speech, writing or gestures.
active aging - ANSbased on the human rights of older people - principles of
independence, participation, dignity, care and self fulfillment
adherence in low literacy patients - ANScolor code medication bottles or use organizer
that separates daily doses into morning, noon, evening and night
ADL's vs IADL's - ANSADL - Activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing,
transferring, walking, eating, and continence.
IADL - Activities R/T independent living such as meal preparation, money mgmt.,
shopping, housework, telephone use.
African Americans - ANS2nd larges minority populations.
religion/spirituality plays important role in health and wellness.
Equate good luck, good fortune, and good health with being right with God.
Closer ties with extended families and rely on their close family ties for support.
Distrustful of health care personnel
African Americans - top five health disparities - ANSgonorrhea,
congenital syphilis,
new cases of AIDS,
,deaths due to HIV infection.
Age related changes which may affect therapeutic communication - ANSVisual acuity
Hearing loss
Speech and language difficulties
Ageism - ANSprejudice towards elderly
Among older adults living in the community, when and where do most falls occur? -
ANSmost falls occur during usual activities such as walking. Indoor falls occur most
often in the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.
Analyze a given policy or legislative act that promotes or hinders the independence and
autonomy of older adults. - ANSPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act - eliminates
lifetime limits for health insurance coverage for essential services, eliminates the ability
of insurance companies to rescind coverage, free preventative care, development of a
prevention and public health fund, increases access to affordable care, and quality
improvement and risk reduction.
Asian Americans - ANSstill practice holistic (naturalistic) medicine and may incorporate
this as an adjunct to Western medicine.
Majority of influence comes from Confucianism Follows a naturalistic perspective,
defining health and illness as a balance between the individual and the world around the
individual.
Treatments may involve - acupuncture, moxibustion (burning of herbal leaves on or
near the body), cupping (the use of warmed glass jars to create suction on certain parts
of the body), massage, herbal remedies, movement and concentration exercises (tai
chi)
Some elders may forgo life sustaining treatment because of the principles of ren. Ren is
the golden rule of Chines decision making "Do not do to others what you do not want
done to yourself".
Asian Americans - top 5 disparities - ANSnew cases of TB, congenital syphilis, no pap
test among females > 18, exposure to particulate matter, and carbon monoxide
exposure
Assistive technology is designed to fill the patient's gap in functional ability. This goes
back to the ADLs and IADLs. What can they do and what can they not do. Can we put
something in place to help them? - ANSany item, piece of equipment or product system,
that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with
disabilities.
, AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - ANS10 item screening test
developed by the World Health Organization and is sensitive for deterring alcohol
dependence and abuse
Baby Boomers - ANSlarge group of people born between 1946-1964. Considered more
affluent, better educated and healthier. Baby boomers have entered the older age group
as of 2011
Baby Boomers unique characteristics that make them a challenge for healthcare
professionals - ANSexpect and demand excellence in geriatric care. Health disparities
exist among minority elder group.
Barthel Index - ANSdesigned to measure functional levels of self-care and mobility, and
it rates the ability to feed and groom oneself, bathe, go to the toilet, walk (or propel a
wheelchair), climb stairs, and control bowel and bladder.
A detailed assessment will provide information for appropriate nursing interventions,
that is, those designed to promote ability and compensate for and prevent further
disability for that individual.
BEER's List of Inappropriate drugs to use in older adults - ANSBenzodiazepines are
mentioned quite a bit.
Amitriptyline (Elavil), chlordiazepoxide-amitriptyline (Limbitrol), and perphenazine-
amytriptyline (Triavil) Strong anticholinergic and sedation effects
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) May cause confusion and sedation;
All barbiturates, except when used to control seizures Highly addictive,
Meperidine (Demerol) May cause confusion
Short-acting nifedipine (Procardia and Adalat) Potential hypotension and constipation
Clonidine (Catapres) Potential for orthostatic hypotension and CNS adverse effects
Mineral oil Potential for aspiration and adverse effects;
Methocarbamol (Robaxin), carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxaxone (Paraflex),
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), oxybutynin (Ditropan) Anticholinergic effects, sedation,
weakness
Short-acting dipyridamole (Persantine) Orthostatic hypotension
Methyldopa (Aldomet) and methyldopa-hydrochlorothiazide (Aldoril) May cause
bradycardia and exacerbate depression in older adults
Care Transitions four conceptual domains/pillars - ANSMedication self management
Use patient centered health record
PCP/Specialist follow up
