Ch 34: Chapter Test

As an adult​ ages, the body experiences changes that​ cause: A. disease processes to take place. B. an increased blood pressure. C. an inability to maintain homeostasis. D. a decreased compensatory ability.

The elderly population is at least​ ________ times as likely to use the EMS system as patients in other age groups. A. 10 B. 5 C. 2 D. 0.5

Of the older patients seen in the emergency department due to a​ fall, ________% will die within 1 year. A. 25 B. 35 C. 50 D. 10

Which of the following groups is MOST likely to be successful in a suicide​ attempt? A. Young women B. Elderly men C. ​Middle-aged men D. Teenagers

Which of the following may provide the EMT with an indication of physical neglect of an elderly​ patient? A. Misuse of a​ person's personal belongings B. Evidence of sexual assault C. Poor hygiene D. Injuries from a fall

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of chest pain in the​ elderly? A. Asthma B. Angina C. Aneurysm D. Pneumonia

Upon your arrival for a medical call at a private​ residence, you find an elderly male patient complaining of difficulty breathing. Which of the following findings would provide you with immediate information about the​ patient's condition? A. Medication list B. Mental status C. Baseline vital signs D. Temperature in the house

While assessing the mental status of an elderly patient who has been retired for several​ years, you notice he has difficulty answering your questions. He seems depressed. Based on this​ information, you​ should: A. acknowledge the patients fears and try to put them in perspective. B. suspect a​ life-threatening neurological event. C. consider the need for advanced provider care. D. consider his mental status as being decreased.

A diastolic blood pressure over​ ________ mmHg is considered hypertensive. A. 50 B. 80 C. 90 D. 65

Which of the following questions is MOST helpful in distinguishing between normal​ age-related changes and the effects of an illness when assessing an elderly​ patient? A. How do you feel today compared to last​ week? B. How is your​ appetite? C. Are you taking your medications the way you are supposed to be taking​ them? D. When was the last time you had a bowel​ movement?

When an elderly patient complains of abdominal​ pain, the EMT should consider this symptom to​ be: A. an indication of a potentially serious problem. B. ​cardiac-related until proven otherwise. C. related to a gastrointestinal problem. D. ​non-life-threatening unless accompanied by other symptoms.

Which of the following statements is believed to be true regarding domestic elder​ abuse? A. The abusers are usually​ well-adjusted. B. The elders are usually in good health. C. There is seldom a family history of elder abuse. D. None of the above.

Which of the following lung conditions is the fourth leading cause of death among the​ elderly? A. Chronic bronchitis B. Pneumothorax C. Tuberculosis D. Pneumonia

Which of the following is the likely result of diminished thyroid function in the​ elderly? A. Decreased tolerance of heat and cold B. Difficulty chewing and swallowing C. ​Thin, dry, wrinkled skin D. Increased toxicity of medications

A segment of the body associated with a specific nerve coming from the spinal​ cord, along which shingles can​ appear, is called​ a: A. myelin sheath. B. motor unit. C. dermatome. D. zoster.

When palpating the pulse of an elderly​ patient, you notice that there is an irregular pulsation without any kind of pattern or cycle to it. This is​ called: A. pulsus alternans. B. pulsus paradoxus. C. heart failure. D. an irregularly irregular pulse.

An elderly patient who is experiencing a myocardial infarction is more likely to complain of which of the following symptoms than a younger patient​ would? A. A rash caused by shingles B. No chest pain or shortness of breath C. Shortness of breath with chest pain D. Shortness of breath without chest pain

A patient gives you a story of having gone out to the movies last​ night, but who according to family​ members, has not left the house in years. This condition is​ called? A. Apoplexy B. Depression C. Confabulation D. Lying

Which of the following fractures is most common among elderly women due to​ falls? A. ​Mid-shaft femur B. Proximal femur C. Distal femur D. Pelvis

You walk up the stairs of a house to respond to a call of an elderly man. You notice that the stairs do not have any handrails. After responding to the reason why he called​ 911, what suggestion would you give to this patient to avoid falls in the​ future? A. He should install a handrail on the front steps to avoid any falls. B. It is illegal to not have a handrail on the front steps and it must be fixed immediately. C. ​Nothing, there is no problem. D. It is a good idea there are no handrails on the front steps as this negatively impacts his balance as he walks up the stairs.

Which of the following is important to remember when communicating with an elderly patient with a hearing​ impairment? A. Speak directly into the​ patient's ear. B. Make sure the patient can see you when you are speaking to him. C. It is not worth the effort to try to get information from an elderly person with a hearing impairment. D. You may need to shout in order for the patient to hear you.

When interviewing the elderly​ patient, the EMT can increase the accuracy of the information he or she gains​ by: A. having his or her partner assist with asking questions. B. allowing sufficient time for the patient to answer. C. asking multiple questions at the same time. D. speaking louder than normal.

While interviewing your​ patient, she tells you that her husband will be back from the store shortly and can get you a list of her medications. Her daughter tells you that the​ patient's husband died 15 years ago. This situation is known​ as: A. imagination. B. confabulation. C. hallucination. D. contemplation.

Which of the following is meant by the​ "1 percent​ rule" of​ aging? A. Our organ systems lose about 1 percent of function per year beginning at age 30. B. We lose about 1 percent of our memory capacity every year beginning at age 50. C. About 1 percent of the population makes it to their 85th birthday. D. About 1 percent of the population older than age 65 has significant organ function decline.

While listening to an otherwise healthy elderly​ patient's lungs, you note decreased breath sounds. Which of the following may explain this​ finding? A. Decreased lung capacity B. Increased chest wall flexibility C. Previous abdominal injuries D. Decreased blood flow to the lungs

Which of the following is NOT a form of elder abuse or​ neglect? A. Social B. Financial C. Physical D. Psychological

You are assessing an​ 83-year-old female who is having hip pain. When you count her pulse you notice that the rate is irregularly irregular. What is your treatment for this​ patient? A. Alert paramedics to respond for a possible cardiac patient. B. Check distal​ circulation, sensory, and motor​ sensation, apply a pelvic​ wrap, place on a traction​ splint, and transport the patient. C. The irregularity is not a reason for concern in itself. D. Contact medical control for permission to have the patient transported by helicopter from the scene.

Which of the following statements regarding elder abuse is​ correct? A. Abused elderly patients will always have physical signs of abuse. B. Signs of elder abuse may be difficult to detect. C. EMTs should ask elderly patients to point out their abuser. D. Signs of elder abuse are usually obvious.

You are caring for an unconscious​ 80-year-old trauma patient. You note the patient has dentures. You first action in managing this patient should​ be: A. tilt the head to a sniffing position. B. perform a jaw thrust as needed. C. prepare to insert an oral airway. D. remove the dentures.

Your patient is an​ 80-year-old male complaining of lower back pain that radiates through to the abdomen. He describes the pain as​ "ripping" in nature. He is​ pale, diaphoretic, and​ anxious, and has a blood pressure of​ 210/100 mmHg, a pulse of 112 beats per​ minute, and a respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute. Which of the following conditions is MOST​ likely? A. Gallbladder disease B. Abdominal aortic aneurysm C. Diverticulitis D. Bowel obstruction

You are assessing a​ 67-year-old male patient who is experiencing a dissecting abdominal aneurysm.​ Typically, such a patient will describe the pain​ as: A. tearing. B. sharp. C. dull. D. achy

The elderly patient will most likely experience​ ________ as he or she continues to age. A. increased food absorption B. decreased chewing difficulty C. decreased intestinal tract movement D. increased stomach acid secretion

The use of a​ made-up experience to replace lost memories with imaginary ones is​ called: A. hysteria. B. denial. C. confusion. D. confabulation.

Which of the following is the most serious complication of a fall injury with hip fracture in a​ 75-year-old patient? A. Collapsed lungs B. Pneumonia C. Blood clots D. Bruised ribs

Concerning​ aging, which of the following statements is NOT​ true? A. Many elderly patients have a high threshold for pain. B. Some elderly people have a low threshold for pain. C. The systolic blood pressure tends to increase with age. D. Older people are less likely to use EMS compared to younger people.

As you care for an elderly patient experiencing a serious medical​ condition, you would expect any deterioration to take​ place: A. ​slowly, with a later shift to rapidly. B. rapidly. C. ​rapidly, with a later shift to slowly. D. slowly and steadily.

An elderly patient you are transporting to the hospital complains of feeling faint and abdominal pain. The patient states a recent history of​ "tarry stool". Which of the following conditions is most​ likely? A. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding B. Myocardial infarction C. Abdominal aortic aneurysm D. Constipation