Question 1

When transporting a stable older patient to the hospital, the MOST effective way to reduce his or her anxiety is to:

Accepted Answer

transport him or her to a hospital that he or she is familiar with.

Question 2

Motor nerve neuropathy is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

loss of balance, muscle weakness, and spasms.

Question 3

Which of the following is the MOST common mechanism of injury in older patients?

Accepted Answer

falls

Question 4

Poor maintenance of home, poor personal care, and dietary neglect are all possible indicators of ____________  elder abuse.

Accepted Answer

physical

Question 5

When caring for an elderly patient who is hearing-impaired, you should:

Accepted Answer

recall that elderly patients have difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds.

Question 6

An older patient with significant dehydration would MOST likely present with:

Accepted Answer

dizziness or fainting upon standing.

Question 7

Syncope in the older patient is:

Accepted Answer

caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain.

Question 8

Common causes of syncope in older patients include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

vasoconstriction.

Question 9

Upon arriving at the residence of an elderly female who apparently fainted, you find the patient lying supine on her  living room floor. She is not moving and her eyes are closed. A neighbor tells you that she found the patient this  way, but did not move her. When you gently tap the patient, she does not respond. You should:

Accepted Answer

direct your partner to manually stabilize her head while you quickly visualize her chest for signs of  breathing.

Question 10

To minimize distractions and confusion when assessing an older patient, you should:

Accepted Answer

have only one EMT speak to the patient at a time.

Question 11

Common causes of depression in the elderly include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

an acute onset of dementia.

Question 12

The EMT should suspect left-sided heart failure in the geriatric patient who presents with:

Accepted Answer

tachypnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

Question 13

An older woman with osteoporosis presents with pain and deformity to her left hip after she shifted her weight  onto her other foot. She has MOST likely experienced a(n):

Accepted Answer

pathologic fracture.

Question 14

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:

Accepted Answer

the patient is experiencing delirious behavior, which suggests a new health problem.

Question 15

Which of the following statements regarding a decreased level of consciousness in the elderly patient is correct?

Accepted Answer

A decreased level of consciousness is not a normal part of the aging process.

Question 16

When assessing a geriatric patient who has possibly experienced an acute ischemic stroke, it is MOST important  to:

Accepted Answer

determine the onset of the patient\'s symptoms.

Question 17

Findings during the social assessment of an older patient include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

outdated medications.

Question 18

An elderly patient may understate or minimize the symptoms of his or her illness because:

Accepted Answer

he or she fears hospitalization.

Question 19

Because of the complexity of the older patient and the vagueness of his or her complaint, you should:

Accepted Answer

attempt to differentiate between chronic and acute problems.

Question 20

A 10% to 20% reduction in brain weight and volume would MOST likely increase an older person\'s risk for:

Accepted Answer

head trauma

Question 21

You are assessing a 70-year-old 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 glucose level is 450 mg/dL.  She is conscious, but confused. 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. This patient\'s clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:

Accepted Answer

hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma (HHNC).

Question 22

When explaining the need for a particular procedure to an elderly patient, you should:

Accepted Answer

use plain language and simple terms.

Question 23

When assessing a 78-year-old female who complains of shortness of breath, the EMT should:

Accepted Answer

ask her how many pillows she uses when she sleeps.

Question 24

When immobilizing a patient with a kyphotic spine to a long backboard, the EMT would MOST likely have to:

Accepted Answer

place blankets behind the patient\'s head.

Question 25

An abdominal aortic aneurysm:

Accepted Answer

is often the result of hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Question 26

A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune system should make you MOST suspicious for:

Accepted Answer

pneumonia

Question 27

The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function is known as:

Accepted Answer

dementia

Question 28

Sedentary behavior while healing from a hip fracture would MOST likely predispose the older patient to:

Accepted Answer

pnemonia

Question 29

When performing your secondary assessment on an older patient who has been injured, it is important to:

Accepted Answer

recall that it will take a less severe mechanism of injury to cause significant injuries.

Question 30

A specific legal document that directs relatives and caregivers regarding the medical treatment that may be given  to patients who cannot speak for themselves is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

advance directive

Question 31

Which of the following statements regarding communications with the elderly is correct?

Accepted Answer

Older patients have difficulty understanding when they are stressed.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a reason why the exact extent and prevalence of elder abuse is unknown?

Accepted Answer

Human resource agencies fail to investigate.

Question 33

You are dispatched to a skilled nursing care facility for an 80-year-old female with abnormal behavior. The patient  is clearly confused and asks you if you are her husband. As your partner administers oxygen to the patient, you  should:

Accepted Answer

determine the patient\'s baseline mental status.

Question 34

During the natural process of aging, the number of functional cilia in the respiratory system decreases, resulting  in:

Accepted Answer

a decreased ability to cough.

Question 35

The stooped posture of some older people, which gives them a humpback appearance, is called:

Accepted Answer

kyphosis

Question 36

Which of the following statements regarding suicide in the older patient is correct?

Accepted Answer

Older patients tend to use more lethal means than younger patients.

Question 37

Fractures of the pelvis in older patients often occur as the result of a combination of:

Accepted Answer

osteoporosis and low-energy trauma.

Question 38

Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should be suspected of having a brain injury,  especially if they:

Accepted Answer

are taking blood-thinning medications.

Question 39

General communication techniques with the elderly include:

Accepted Answer

frequently asking the patient if he or she understands.

Question 40

When assessing an older patient who has multiple bruises in various stages of healing, the EMT should  do all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

accuse a caregiver of physical abuse.

Question 41

A 69yearold  female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is semiconscious with a blood pressure  of 80/50 mm Hg and a heart rate of 74 beats/min that is weak. Her daughter, who was uninjured in the  crash, tells you that her mother has a history of hypertension and takes betablockers.  Considering the  fact that this patient is probably in shock, what is the MOST likely explanation for the absence of  tachycardia?

Accepted Answer

the effects of her antihypertensive medication

Question 42

Which of the following statements regarding the aging process is correct?

Accepted Answer

Aging is a linear processÍ¾ the rate at which a person loses functions does not increase with age.

Question 43

Blood levels of medications may rise in the elderly, sometimes to toxic levels. This is MOST likely due to:

Accepted Answer

renal insufficiency.

Question 44

In contrast to delirium, dementia:

Accepted Answer

is usually considered irreversible.

Question 45

When an elderly patient presents you with multiple overthecounter  medications that he or she is taking,  it is MOST important to:

Accepted Answer

recall that the patient is at risk for negative medication interactions.

Question 46

With age, the spine stiffens as a result of shrinkage of the intervertebral disc spaces, and the vertebrae  become brittle. This increases the risk of:

Accepted Answer

compression fractures.

Question 47

You receive a call for a sick person. When you arrive, you find the patient, a 75yearold  male, lying  unresponsive in his bed. His respirations are slow and irregular and his pulse is slow and weak. His  daughter tells you that he fell the day before, but refused to allow her to call 911.  His past medical  history is significant for hypothyroidism, deep vein thrombosis, heavy alcohol use, and liver cirrhosis. His  medications include blood thinners and vitamins. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient is  experiencing:

Accepted Answer

a subdural hematoma.

Question 48

Osteoporosis is MOST accurately defined as:

Accepted Answer

a decrease in bone mass and density.

Question 49

The purpose of the GEMS diamond is to:

Accepted Answer

help EMS personnel remember what is different about elderly patients.

Question 50

When faced with a situation in which an older patient with a terminal illness is in cardiac arrest, but written  documentation regarding the patient\'s wishes cannot be located, the EMT should:

Accepted Answer

attempt to resuscitate the patient.

Question 51

The use of multiple prescription drugs by a single patient, causing the potential for negative effects such  as overdosing or drug interaction, is called:

Accepted Answer

polypharmacy

Reducing Anxiety in Older Patients: Familiar Hospital Visits

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