Ch. 35 Geriatric Emergencies

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 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):

An 84-year-old male fell a week ago and has been bedridden since then. Today, he presents with an altered mental status. His skin is pale and cold and his respirations are rapid and shallow. The EMT should suspect:

An abdominal aortic aneurysm:

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

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

Clouding of the lenses of the eyes is called:

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

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

In contrast to younger patients, older patients are more prone to a decrease in blood pressure (BP) upon standing because:

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

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

Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of the family:

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

The leading cause of death in the geriatric patient is:

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

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

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

Which of the following observations or statements represents the "E" in the GEMS diamond?

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 reads "high." 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:

Good general communication techniques with the elderly include:

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. You should:

The purpose of the GEMS diamond is to:

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

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

As a person ages, the heart may enlarge as a result of:

In contrast to delirium, dementia:

Syncope in the older patient is:

A 73-year-old female experienced a syncopal episode while watching TV. She is now conscious, but is diaphoretic, tachycardic, and hypotensive. Your assessment reveals abdominal tenderness and a pulsating mass to the left of her umbilicus. You should suspect:

Osteoporosis is defined as:

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

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

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

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:

You are dispatched to a residence for an 80-year-old female who fell. When you arrive, you find the patient conscious, lying in a recumbent position on the floor in her living room. In addition to providing the appropriate treatment, you should ask the patient if:

In contrast to a living will, a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order becomes valid when:

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

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

You receive a call for a sick person. When you arrive, you find the patient, a 75-year-old 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 9-1-1. 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:

When caring for a geriatric patient with a traumatic injury, it is important to consider that: