NSG 4067: SEEING OLDER ADULTS THROUGH THE EYES OF WELLNESS
1. A nurse is discussing an older adult's recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis with a colleague.
Which of the nurse's statements reflects an accurate view of the relationship between aging and
wellness?
A) "It's important that the individual knows this is an expected part of growing older."
B) "We need to teach the older adult how he can keep living a fruitful life in spite of his
diagnosis."
C) "We need to make sure our teaching is not too detailed for someone of his age."
D) "We need to ensure his expectations of continuing to live alone are realistic."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Answer B reflects a desire to foster a fulfilling and productive life for the older adult despite his
diagnosis, and reflects an understanding of wellness and aging. Option A implies that illness is
an inevitability of aging. Option C suggests that older adults have a limited capacity to learn by
virtue of their age, and option D implies pessimism about the health and functioning of the older
adult.
2. A nurse is teaching an older person about the concept of successful aging. Which of the
nurse's questions addresses an important contributor to successful aging?
A) "Are you largely free of acute or chronic illnesses?"
B) "Do you feel financially secure?"
C) "Do you feel like you actively engage with life?"
D) "Do you have a reliable support network?"
Ans: C
Feedback:
Research has indicated that an active engagement with life is central to successful and healthy
aging. Absence of illness, financial security, and the nature of a person's support network are not
identified components of successful aging.
3. An older adult has recently begun to display unprecedented lapses in short-term memory. The
nurse overhears a colleague reassuring the person by saying, "Try not to worry; it's just a part of
growing older." The nurse recognizes that this is an example of what phenomenon?
A) Multiple jeopardy
B) Gerontophobia
C) Age attribution
D) Implicit ageism
, Ans: C
Feedback:
Age attribution is the act of attributing a problem to age rather than to a pathology, as in the
colleague's statement. Multiple jeopardy is the compounding of discrimination based on factors
such as race and gender, while gerontophobia is the fear or hatred of older people. Implicit
ageism is the unrecognized, negative perception of older people.
4. A nurse hears a colleague make the statement, "Most older adults have nothing to worry about
financially." Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
A) "You have to remember that there's a huge economic disparity among older adults."
B) "Actually, the number of older people living below the poverty line has been increasing,
not decreasing."
C) "This isn't really true now, but it is true that the gaps that disadvantaged groups live with
are expected to shrink."
D) "This is true for some groups, but not for minorities who are less likely to be living with
their relatives."
Ans: A
Feedback:
An important consideration with regard to economic conditions of older adults is the tremendous
range in financial status, which varies significantly according to race, gender, and living
arrangements. The number of adults living below the poverty line, however, has decreased in
recent years. The disparities that separate disadvantaged groups from more economically secure
older adults are predicted to persist. Minorities are more likely, not less likely, to be living with
their relatives.
5. A nurse is conducting a study on the needs and living situations of older adults in the
community. Which of the following statements should the nurse take into account?
A) A majority of older Americans will live in a nursing home at some point.
B) More older men live alone than older women.
C) Assisted living arrangements have become increasingly common.
D) Most older Americans reside in some form of institutional arrangement.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Assisted living arrangements have become an increasingly common alternative to nursing
homes. The number of Americans living in nursing homes has recently decreased, not increased,
1. A nurse is discussing an older adult's recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis with a colleague.
Which of the nurse's statements reflects an accurate view of the relationship between aging and
wellness?
A) "It's important that the individual knows this is an expected part of growing older."
B) "We need to teach the older adult how he can keep living a fruitful life in spite of his
diagnosis."
C) "We need to make sure our teaching is not too detailed for someone of his age."
D) "We need to ensure his expectations of continuing to live alone are realistic."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Answer B reflects a desire to foster a fulfilling and productive life for the older adult despite his
diagnosis, and reflects an understanding of wellness and aging. Option A implies that illness is
an inevitability of aging. Option C suggests that older adults have a limited capacity to learn by
virtue of their age, and option D implies pessimism about the health and functioning of the older
adult.
2. A nurse is teaching an older person about the concept of successful aging. Which of the
nurse's questions addresses an important contributor to successful aging?
A) "Are you largely free of acute or chronic illnesses?"
B) "Do you feel financially secure?"
C) "Do you feel like you actively engage with life?"
D) "Do you have a reliable support network?"
Ans: C
Feedback:
Research has indicated that an active engagement with life is central to successful and healthy
aging. Absence of illness, financial security, and the nature of a person's support network are not
identified components of successful aging.
3. An older adult has recently begun to display unprecedented lapses in short-term memory. The
nurse overhears a colleague reassuring the person by saying, "Try not to worry; it's just a part of
growing older." The nurse recognizes that this is an example of what phenomenon?
A) Multiple jeopardy
B) Gerontophobia
C) Age attribution
D) Implicit ageism
, Ans: C
Feedback:
Age attribution is the act of attributing a problem to age rather than to a pathology, as in the
colleague's statement. Multiple jeopardy is the compounding of discrimination based on factors
such as race and gender, while gerontophobia is the fear or hatred of older people. Implicit
ageism is the unrecognized, negative perception of older people.
4. A nurse hears a colleague make the statement, "Most older adults have nothing to worry about
financially." Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
A) "You have to remember that there's a huge economic disparity among older adults."
B) "Actually, the number of older people living below the poverty line has been increasing,
not decreasing."
C) "This isn't really true now, but it is true that the gaps that disadvantaged groups live with
are expected to shrink."
D) "This is true for some groups, but not for minorities who are less likely to be living with
their relatives."
Ans: A
Feedback:
An important consideration with regard to economic conditions of older adults is the tremendous
range in financial status, which varies significantly according to race, gender, and living
arrangements. The number of adults living below the poverty line, however, has decreased in
recent years. The disparities that separate disadvantaged groups from more economically secure
older adults are predicted to persist. Minorities are more likely, not less likely, to be living with
their relatives.
5. A nurse is conducting a study on the needs and living situations of older adults in the
community. Which of the following statements should the nurse take into account?
A) A majority of older Americans will live in a nursing home at some point.
B) More older men live alone than older women.
C) Assisted living arrangements have become increasingly common.
D) Most older Americans reside in some form of institutional arrangement.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Assisted living arrangements have become an increasingly common alternative to nursing
homes. The number of Americans living in nursing homes has recently decreased, not increased,
