Page 1 of 83
“GERIATRIC EMERGENCIES EXAM “ LATEST 2025
EXAM UPDATED 2025 – 2026 SOLVED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% GRADED
A+ (LATEST VERSION)
Paramedic Chapter 44 - Geriatric Emergencies - Multiple Choice
The EMT should suspect left-sideds heart failure in the geriatric patient who
presents with:
a. fever and a cough that produces green sputum
b. tachypnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
c. jugular venous distention and peripheral edema
d. swelling of the lower extremities and weakness
b. tachypnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
You are responding to the dementia unit at a nursing home for respiratory
distress. When you arrive, you notice that the patient is experiencing mild
dyspnea and has an altered mental status. What can you do to help determine
if the patient's altered mental status is appropriate for her underlying
dementia?
a. as long as the patient is alert and able to answer most questions, there is no
need to determine if this is normal behavior
b. Ask the patient's roommate if this is normal behavior for the patient
c. Find a staff member who can explain the patient's underlying mental status
to you
d. Because the patient already has dementia, there is no need to investigate
this further
c. find a staff member who explain he patient's underlying mental status to you
The leading cause of death in the geriatric patient is:
a. hypertension
b. altered mental status
c. arthritis
d. heart disease
d. heart disease
, Page 2 of 83
You are assessing a 70 yo female who complains of intense thirst, frequent
urination, and dizziness. She has a history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease,
rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Her blood pressure is 92/52 mm Hg, her pulse
rate is 130 beats/min and weak, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min and
shallow. The patient's clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:
a. diabetic ketoacidosis
b. hyperglycemia with moderate dehydration
c. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
d. acute renal failure with associated hyperglycemia
c. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
Sedentary behavior while healing from a hip fracture would MOST likely
predispose the older patient to:
a. pneumonia
b. osteoporosis
c. heart failure
d. ischemic stroke
a. pneumonia
Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of the
family:
Select one:
a. often causes the patient to become paranoid and untrusting of your help
b. may cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making
decisions
c. will anger the patient and result in his or her refusal to accept care or
transport
d. is usually beneficial because the patient's cognitive skills are typically
impaired
b. may cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making decisions
Geriatric patients present as a special problem for caregivers because:
a. the classic presentation of disease is often altered
b. geriatric patients tend not to understand their underlying conditions
c. their medications are rather difficult to learn
d. the typical diseases of the geriatric population are uncommon
a. the classic presentation of disease is often altered
Clouding of the lenses of the eyes is called:
a. retinitis
b. cataracts
c. glaucoma
d. conjunctivitis
, Page 3 of 83
b. cataracts
A drop in blood pressure with a change in position is referred to as:
a. orthostatic hypotension
b. metastatic hypotension
c. malignant hypotension
d. psychogenic hypotension
a. orthostatic hypotension
During the natural process of aging, the number of functional cilia in the
respiratory system decreases, resulting in:
a. a decreased ability to cough
b. baseline respiratory distress
c. an increased risk of COPD
d. air-trapping within the alveoli
a. a decreased ability to cough
A 77-year-old female presents with an acute onset of altered mental status. Her
son is present and advises that she has a history of hypertension, atrial
fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and glaucoma. He further advises that she takes
numerous medications and that she is normally alert. When you assess this
patient, it is important to note that:
a. because of her age and medical history, you should suspect Alzheimer
disease.
b. the patient is experiencing delirious behavior, which suggests a new health
problem.
c. her mental status is likely the result of hypoglycemia and you should give
her sugar
d. dementia typically presents as an acute onset of deterioration of cognitive
function
b. the patient is experiencing delirious behavior, which suggests a new health
problem
Which of the following observations or statements represents the "E" in the
GEMS diamond?
a. elderly patients present atypically and deserve your respect
b. the patient's residence is cold due to a malfunctioning heater
c. a patient is assisted with his or her activities of daily living
d. the patient's medications have not been filled in 2 months
b. the patient's residence is cold due to a malfunctioning heater
Because of the complexity of the older patient and the vagueness of his or her
complaint, you should:
a. limit your physical examination to the area of pain or injury
, Page 4 of 83
b. rely exclusively on family members for the medical history
c. attempt to differentiate between chronic and acute problems
d. perform a rapid assessment on all geriatric patients you treat
c. attempt to differentiate between chronic and acute problems
When immobilizing a patient with a kyphotic spine to a long backboard, the
EMT would MOST likely have to:
a. force the head into a neutral alignment
b. place blankets behind the patient's head
c. secure the patient's head before the torso
d. use a school stretcher instead of a log roll
b. place blankets behind the patient's head
Stereotyping of elderly people that often leads to discrimination is called:
a. geritism
b. geriographics
c. oldism
d. ageism
d. ageism
Which of the following is not considered a common condition of the elderly?
a. hypertension
b. sinusitis
c. gastroenteritis
d. arthritis
c. gastroenteritis
Anatomic changes that occur as a person ages predisposes geriatric patients
to:
a. airway problems
b. fungal infections
c. communicable diseases
d. mental status changes
a. airway problems
Which of the following statements regarding geriatrics is false?
a. chronic mental status impairment is a normal process of aging
b. multiple disease processes and complaints can make assessment
complicated
c. communication may be more complicated with an older adult
d. you should find and account for all patient medications
a. chronic mental status impairment is a normal process of aging
The heart rate should be in the normal adult rage for a geriatric patient but can
be altered by medications such as:
“GERIATRIC EMERGENCIES EXAM “ LATEST 2025
EXAM UPDATED 2025 – 2026 SOLVED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% GRADED
A+ (LATEST VERSION)
Paramedic Chapter 44 - Geriatric Emergencies - Multiple Choice
The EMT should suspect left-sideds heart failure in the geriatric patient who
presents with:
a. fever and a cough that produces green sputum
b. tachypnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
c. jugular venous distention and peripheral edema
d. swelling of the lower extremities and weakness
b. tachypnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
You are responding to the dementia unit at a nursing home for respiratory
distress. When you arrive, you notice that the patient is experiencing mild
dyspnea and has an altered mental status. What can you do to help determine
if the patient's altered mental status is appropriate for her underlying
dementia?
a. as long as the patient is alert and able to answer most questions, there is no
need to determine if this is normal behavior
b. Ask the patient's roommate if this is normal behavior for the patient
c. Find a staff member who can explain the patient's underlying mental status
to you
d. Because the patient already has dementia, there is no need to investigate
this further
c. find a staff member who explain he patient's underlying mental status to you
The leading cause of death in the geriatric patient is:
a. hypertension
b. altered mental status
c. arthritis
d. heart disease
d. heart disease
, Page 2 of 83
You are assessing a 70 yo female who complains of intense thirst, frequent
urination, and dizziness. She has a history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease,
rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Her blood pressure is 92/52 mm Hg, her pulse
rate is 130 beats/min and weak, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min and
shallow. The patient's clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:
a. diabetic ketoacidosis
b. hyperglycemia with moderate dehydration
c. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
d. acute renal failure with associated hyperglycemia
c. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
Sedentary behavior while healing from a hip fracture would MOST likely
predispose the older patient to:
a. pneumonia
b. osteoporosis
c. heart failure
d. ischemic stroke
a. pneumonia
Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of the
family:
Select one:
a. often causes the patient to become paranoid and untrusting of your help
b. may cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making
decisions
c. will anger the patient and result in his or her refusal to accept care or
transport
d. is usually beneficial because the patient's cognitive skills are typically
impaired
b. may cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making decisions
Geriatric patients present as a special problem for caregivers because:
a. the classic presentation of disease is often altered
b. geriatric patients tend not to understand their underlying conditions
c. their medications are rather difficult to learn
d. the typical diseases of the geriatric population are uncommon
a. the classic presentation of disease is often altered
Clouding of the lenses of the eyes is called:
a. retinitis
b. cataracts
c. glaucoma
d. conjunctivitis
, Page 3 of 83
b. cataracts
A drop in blood pressure with a change in position is referred to as:
a. orthostatic hypotension
b. metastatic hypotension
c. malignant hypotension
d. psychogenic hypotension
a. orthostatic hypotension
During the natural process of aging, the number of functional cilia in the
respiratory system decreases, resulting in:
a. a decreased ability to cough
b. baseline respiratory distress
c. an increased risk of COPD
d. air-trapping within the alveoli
a. a decreased ability to cough
A 77-year-old female presents with an acute onset of altered mental status. Her
son is present and advises that she has a history of hypertension, atrial
fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and glaucoma. He further advises that she takes
numerous medications and that she is normally alert. When you assess this
patient, it is important to note that:
a. because of her age and medical history, you should suspect Alzheimer
disease.
b. the patient is experiencing delirious behavior, which suggests a new health
problem.
c. her mental status is likely the result of hypoglycemia and you should give
her sugar
d. dementia typically presents as an acute onset of deterioration of cognitive
function
b. the patient is experiencing delirious behavior, which suggests a new health
problem
Which of the following observations or statements represents the "E" in the
GEMS diamond?
a. elderly patients present atypically and deserve your respect
b. the patient's residence is cold due to a malfunctioning heater
c. a patient is assisted with his or her activities of daily living
d. the patient's medications have not been filled in 2 months
b. the patient's residence is cold due to a malfunctioning heater
Because of the complexity of the older patient and the vagueness of his or her
complaint, you should:
a. limit your physical examination to the area of pain or injury
, Page 4 of 83
b. rely exclusively on family members for the medical history
c. attempt to differentiate between chronic and acute problems
d. perform a rapid assessment on all geriatric patients you treat
c. attempt to differentiate between chronic and acute problems
When immobilizing a patient with a kyphotic spine to a long backboard, the
EMT would MOST likely have to:
a. force the head into a neutral alignment
b. place blankets behind the patient's head
c. secure the patient's head before the torso
d. use a school stretcher instead of a log roll
b. place blankets behind the patient's head
Stereotyping of elderly people that often leads to discrimination is called:
a. geritism
b. geriographics
c. oldism
d. ageism
d. ageism
Which of the following is not considered a common condition of the elderly?
a. hypertension
b. sinusitis
c. gastroenteritis
d. arthritis
c. gastroenteritis
Anatomic changes that occur as a person ages predisposes geriatric patients
to:
a. airway problems
b. fungal infections
c. communicable diseases
d. mental status changes
a. airway problems
Which of the following statements regarding geriatrics is false?
a. chronic mental status impairment is a normal process of aging
b. multiple disease processes and complaints can make assessment
complicated
c. communication may be more complicated with an older adult
d. you should find and account for all patient medications
a. chronic mental status impairment is a normal process of aging
The heart rate should be in the normal adult rage for a geriatric patient but can
be altered by medications such as:
