NR601 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2025 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
Week 3:
Elder
abuse
Tell-tale signs indicative of abuse may include bruises, broken bones, poor personal hygiene,
abrupt changes in finances, sudden withdrawal in normal activities, unexplained weight loss, and
excessive power or control by a close family member or friend. Elder abuse describes any
knowing, intentional, or
,negligent act performed by a caregiver or another person that may cause harm or risk of harm
to an older adult who is vulnerable.
Types of abuse:
• Physical abuse: causing physical pain or injuring a vulnerable elder
• Sexual abuse: sexual contact with a vulnerable elder without his or her consent
• Neglect: failing to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder
• Exploitation: the taking of funds, property, or any assets of a vulnerable elder without
legal consent and not for the benefit of the elder
• Emotional abuse: using verbal or nonverbal means to cause mental pain, anguish, or
distress in an elder
• Abandonment: deserting the vulnerable elder once someone has assumed responsibility
for that individual
• Self-neglect: the elder fails to perform the needed activities to protect his or her own
health and safety (lacks food/utilities, refuses medications, hoards, lives in unsafe
conditions, neglects his or her grooming/appearance, is unable to handle finances, is
isolated, is disoriented, develops a
dependence on drugs and/or alcohol)
Risk Factors:
- Common features of perpetrators committing elder abuse are partners or spouses living
with the victim, history of alcohol or drug abuse, history of mental illness, history of
unemployment, and being socially isolated.
- The abused elder is more likely an older female who generally has a physical impairment
and is in poor health. She may either live alone or with the abuser, or in a household with
many members.
- The abuser is generally found to be a male who has a history of past or current substance
abuse, has mental health issues, is socially isolated, and has a history of past trouble with
, law enforcement
- In 90% of cases (of abuse of adults aged 60 or older) the culprit is a family member.
- These cases result in an increased risk of death for the vulnerable elder involved in the
abuse Provider responsibilities in suspected abuse- If elder abuse is suspected, it is the health-
care professional’s responsibility—and in most cases his or her legal obligation—to report this
to either 911 or the state elder abuse hotline. Carefully collect information regarding the patient,
using physical findings, patient’s functional abilities, testing results, and verbal information from
the patient and his or her caregivers. Use the interdisciplinary team and speak with social
workers, nursing staff, and others who may have interacted with the patient and caregiver.
Document all findings, because they may be required to be presented in court later. Photograph
suspicious injuries and measure or compare size of injury to familiar objects if ruler is not
available. Be sure to f/u with case workers to determine outcome. It may take several reports
before the true picture of abuse/neglect/etc can be investigated thoroughly and the elder
moved to a safe environment.
Alzheimers *most common form of dementia*
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative condition and the most common
form of dementia. Progressive and irreversible cognitive decline; and an array of emotional and
behavioral problems that result from cognitive decline. Impaired ability to learn new information
or recall
, previously learned information and one or more additional cognitive disturbances in language
(aphasia), function (apraxia), perception (agnosia), or executive function.
Distinguishing features-
• AD is characterized by an insidious onset; slow, progressive cognitive decline, and an
array of emotional and behavioral problems that result from cognitive decline.
• The cognitive decline in AD manifests as an impaired ability to learn new information or
recall previously learned information and one or more additional cognitive disturbances
in language (aphasia), function (apraxia), perception (agnosia), or executive function.
• Most cases are sporadic but there are rare familial forms of AD.
• Pathologic changes in the brains of pts with AD include neuritic plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles
Subjective
• The patient usually presents with an initial complaint of memory problems. Often it is a
family member who mentions this because patients with AD do not typically have insight
into their memory difficulties.
• Recognition of cognitive difficulty on from the family is often due to a change in pattern
(getting lost in familiar places, etc.)
• Eventually, the person loses the capacity to converse, walk, sit, or hold up the head.
• 80% of pts in nursing homes with AD have behavioral problems including: hostility,
aggression, suspiciousness and paranoia, delusions, agitation, sundowning, incontinence,
and inappropriate
or impulsive sexual behavior
Objective
• Concern about cognitive decline expressed by the pt or family or changes in behavior
GRADED A+
Week 3:
Elder
abuse
Tell-tale signs indicative of abuse may include bruises, broken bones, poor personal hygiene,
abrupt changes in finances, sudden withdrawal in normal activities, unexplained weight loss, and
excessive power or control by a close family member or friend. Elder abuse describes any
knowing, intentional, or
,negligent act performed by a caregiver or another person that may cause harm or risk of harm
to an older adult who is vulnerable.
Types of abuse:
• Physical abuse: causing physical pain or injuring a vulnerable elder
• Sexual abuse: sexual contact with a vulnerable elder without his or her consent
• Neglect: failing to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder
• Exploitation: the taking of funds, property, or any assets of a vulnerable elder without
legal consent and not for the benefit of the elder
• Emotional abuse: using verbal or nonverbal means to cause mental pain, anguish, or
distress in an elder
• Abandonment: deserting the vulnerable elder once someone has assumed responsibility
for that individual
• Self-neglect: the elder fails to perform the needed activities to protect his or her own
health and safety (lacks food/utilities, refuses medications, hoards, lives in unsafe
conditions, neglects his or her grooming/appearance, is unable to handle finances, is
isolated, is disoriented, develops a
dependence on drugs and/or alcohol)
Risk Factors:
- Common features of perpetrators committing elder abuse are partners or spouses living
with the victim, history of alcohol or drug abuse, history of mental illness, history of
unemployment, and being socially isolated.
- The abused elder is more likely an older female who generally has a physical impairment
and is in poor health. She may either live alone or with the abuser, or in a household with
many members.
- The abuser is generally found to be a male who has a history of past or current substance
abuse, has mental health issues, is socially isolated, and has a history of past trouble with
, law enforcement
- In 90% of cases (of abuse of adults aged 60 or older) the culprit is a family member.
- These cases result in an increased risk of death for the vulnerable elder involved in the
abuse Provider responsibilities in suspected abuse- If elder abuse is suspected, it is the health-
care professional’s responsibility—and in most cases his or her legal obligation—to report this
to either 911 or the state elder abuse hotline. Carefully collect information regarding the patient,
using physical findings, patient’s functional abilities, testing results, and verbal information from
the patient and his or her caregivers. Use the interdisciplinary team and speak with social
workers, nursing staff, and others who may have interacted with the patient and caregiver.
Document all findings, because they may be required to be presented in court later. Photograph
suspicious injuries and measure or compare size of injury to familiar objects if ruler is not
available. Be sure to f/u with case workers to determine outcome. It may take several reports
before the true picture of abuse/neglect/etc can be investigated thoroughly and the elder
moved to a safe environment.
Alzheimers *most common form of dementia*
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative condition and the most common
form of dementia. Progressive and irreversible cognitive decline; and an array of emotional and
behavioral problems that result from cognitive decline. Impaired ability to learn new information
or recall
, previously learned information and one or more additional cognitive disturbances in language
(aphasia), function (apraxia), perception (agnosia), or executive function.
Distinguishing features-
• AD is characterized by an insidious onset; slow, progressive cognitive decline, and an
array of emotional and behavioral problems that result from cognitive decline.
• The cognitive decline in AD manifests as an impaired ability to learn new information or
recall previously learned information and one or more additional cognitive disturbances
in language (aphasia), function (apraxia), perception (agnosia), or executive function.
• Most cases are sporadic but there are rare familial forms of AD.
• Pathologic changes in the brains of pts with AD include neuritic plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles
Subjective
• The patient usually presents with an initial complaint of memory problems. Often it is a
family member who mentions this because patients with AD do not typically have insight
into their memory difficulties.
• Recognition of cognitive difficulty on from the family is often due to a change in pattern
(getting lost in familiar places, etc.)
• Eventually, the person loses the capacity to converse, walk, sit, or hold up the head.
• 80% of pts in nursing homes with AD have behavioral problems including: hostility,
aggression, suspiciousness and paranoia, delusions, agitation, sundowning, incontinence,
and inappropriate
or impulsive sexual behavior
Objective
• Concern about cognitive decline expressed by the pt or family or changes in behavior
