NSG 4067: CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS DURING ILLNESS
1. Which of the following statements best captures the typical character of health problems in the
lives of older adults?
A) Older adults' lives are dominated by the increasing number of acute health problems due
to age-related changes.
B) Most older adults experience an interplay between a number of chronic conditions and
occasional acute health problems.
C) Older adults can expect a relatively consistent decline in their health over time as a result
of acute health problems.
D) Chronic conditions account for the normal downward direction of an older adult's health
status.
Ans: B
Feedback:
The interplay between chronic and occasional acute conditions is typical of the health trajectory
of many older adults. The most salient factor is not acute problems alone, nor are health
problems necessarily attributable to age-related changes. Changes in health status are rarely
consistent and do not exclude chronic conditions or acute problems.
2. During assessment of an older adult, the nurse discovers that the individual has been reluctant
to divulge recent losses in activities of daily living to his primary care provider. Which of the
following factors has been demonstrated to contribute to such reluctance?
A) The older adult may fear a loss of independence if problems are disclosed.
B) The older adult may realize that age-related changes are normally not treatable.
C) The older adult may be experiencing cognitive deficits that influence decision making.
D) The older adult may recognize that health care systems are not able to address
psychosocial problems.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Many older adults have been shown to fear losing their independence or becoming
institutionalized if they divulge health problems. It has not been demonstrated that age-related
changes and psychosocial problems are not treatable, nor that cognitive changes influence such
behaviors.
3. A nurse is teaching new graduates about the nature of palliative care on her unit. Which of the
following statements by a new nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
, A) "I can see how important it is for us to educate patients and their families and friends on
the unit."
B) "It certainly requires a change in thinking to understand why we don't provide any
medical interventions for patients."
C) "I can see how comfort and psychosocial well-being take precedence over physical
functioning."
D) "Purpose in life and quality of life seem to be the overarching goals of palliative care."
Ans: B
Feedback:
While the focus of palliative care is not on curing disease, this does not mean that treatments of
all kinds are absent. Distressing symptoms are addressed from both a nursing perspective and a
medical perspective. Education is a key component of palliative care, and comfort and
psychosocial well-being trump physical functioning. Purpose in life and quality of life are
similarly emphasized.
4. A nurse is teaching an older adult's family about the concept of caregiver burden. Which of the
following points is priority for the nurse to communicate to the family?
A) "Don't feel guilty about having to hire help. Most older Americans' care is currently
provided by professionals and formal services."
B) "If you do eventually feel overburdened, moving your loved one to a nursing home will
provide you with relief."
C) "You'll find it difficult to provide for your loved one's needs if you yourself don't have a
strong support system."
D) "You'll actually find that for you, the benefits of providing for your loved one outweigh
the negative consequences."
Ans: C
Feedback:
A strong support system is a prerequisite for anyone who is planning to become a caregiver for a
friend or family member. Most care is provided by friends and family, not professionals. It has
been shown that moving a loved one to a nursing home does not diminish stress and burden on
caregivers. While there are psychosocial benefits to being a caregiver, the negative functional
consequences of caregiving outweigh the positive.
5. Which of the following statements by the new nurse best conveys an understanding of diabetes
in older adults?
A) "A combination of lifestyle factors and age-related changes contributes to high rates of
diabetes among older adults."
B) "Development of diabetes later in life is considered a normal, age-related change."
1. Which of the following statements best captures the typical character of health problems in the
lives of older adults?
A) Older adults' lives are dominated by the increasing number of acute health problems due
to age-related changes.
B) Most older adults experience an interplay between a number of chronic conditions and
occasional acute health problems.
C) Older adults can expect a relatively consistent decline in their health over time as a result
of acute health problems.
D) Chronic conditions account for the normal downward direction of an older adult's health
status.
Ans: B
Feedback:
The interplay between chronic and occasional acute conditions is typical of the health trajectory
of many older adults. The most salient factor is not acute problems alone, nor are health
problems necessarily attributable to age-related changes. Changes in health status are rarely
consistent and do not exclude chronic conditions or acute problems.
2. During assessment of an older adult, the nurse discovers that the individual has been reluctant
to divulge recent losses in activities of daily living to his primary care provider. Which of the
following factors has been demonstrated to contribute to such reluctance?
A) The older adult may fear a loss of independence if problems are disclosed.
B) The older adult may realize that age-related changes are normally not treatable.
C) The older adult may be experiencing cognitive deficits that influence decision making.
D) The older adult may recognize that health care systems are not able to address
psychosocial problems.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Many older adults have been shown to fear losing their independence or becoming
institutionalized if they divulge health problems. It has not been demonstrated that age-related
changes and psychosocial problems are not treatable, nor that cognitive changes influence such
behaviors.
3. A nurse is teaching new graduates about the nature of palliative care on her unit. Which of the
following statements by a new nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
, A) "I can see how important it is for us to educate patients and their families and friends on
the unit."
B) "It certainly requires a change in thinking to understand why we don't provide any
medical interventions for patients."
C) "I can see how comfort and psychosocial well-being take precedence over physical
functioning."
D) "Purpose in life and quality of life seem to be the overarching goals of palliative care."
Ans: B
Feedback:
While the focus of palliative care is not on curing disease, this does not mean that treatments of
all kinds are absent. Distressing symptoms are addressed from both a nursing perspective and a
medical perspective. Education is a key component of palliative care, and comfort and
psychosocial well-being trump physical functioning. Purpose in life and quality of life are
similarly emphasized.
4. A nurse is teaching an older adult's family about the concept of caregiver burden. Which of the
following points is priority for the nurse to communicate to the family?
A) "Don't feel guilty about having to hire help. Most older Americans' care is currently
provided by professionals and formal services."
B) "If you do eventually feel overburdened, moving your loved one to a nursing home will
provide you with relief."
C) "You'll find it difficult to provide for your loved one's needs if you yourself don't have a
strong support system."
D) "You'll actually find that for you, the benefits of providing for your loved one outweigh
the negative consequences."
Ans: C
Feedback:
A strong support system is a prerequisite for anyone who is planning to become a caregiver for a
friend or family member. Most care is provided by friends and family, not professionals. It has
been shown that moving a loved one to a nursing home does not diminish stress and burden on
caregivers. While there are psychosocial benefits to being a caregiver, the negative functional
consequences of caregiving outweigh the positive.
5. Which of the following statements by the new nurse best conveys an understanding of diabetes
in older adults?
A) "A combination of lifestyle factors and age-related changes contributes to high rates of
diabetes among older adults."
B) "Development of diabetes later in life is considered a normal, age-related change."
