Deck 10: Late and Very Late Adulthood

Question 1

It is estimated that by the year 2050 there will be approximately 19 million Americans

A)living in poverty.
B)85 years or older.
C)with Alzheimer's disease.
D)100 years or older.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

How might depression in the elderly differ from depression in younger people? What should be taken into account in assessing depression in older people? What factors might contribute to this depression?

Answer 2

Answers will vary.​

Question 3

What are some of the reasons that retirement is difficult for people? What are some of the positive and negative ways people sometimes cope?

Answer 3

Answers will vary.​

Question 4

Discuss how different racial and ethnic groups view older people. What is their role in these groups? What is their status? Compare and contrast these groups (Native American, African American, Asian American, Latino)to the majority culture and its view of older people.

Question 5

What are some of the issues facing older adults who are childless? Or who live alone? How can they obtain the social support they need?

Question 6

Sexually, people in their 70s, 80s and beyond

A)are unattractive to each other and desire younger partners.
B)have absolutely no decrease in sexual desire.
C)are too physically fragile for sexual intercourse.
D)remain able to engage in sexual activity, though there are several physiological changes they must cope with.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is TRUE about activity theory?

A)This theory focuses on individual differences in the physical changes that go with aging.
B)The central assumption of this theory is the more activity one engages in old age, the greater the sense of life satisfaction.
C)The theory states older people need to work, either for pay or as volunteers, to promote their well-being.
D)The theory states that successful aging involves mutual withdrawal between the individual and society.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is FALSE about health and older persons?

A)Older adults take more prescription and over-the-counter medications than other age groups.
B)A disproportionate amount of total personal health care expenditures are attributable to older adults.
C)Older adults are admitted to the hospital more than other age groups, and they stay longer.
D)Older and younger people process medications the same way.

Question 9

Discuss the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of older adults, and the ways it may be important.

Question 10

What are some of the physical hazards associated with alcoholism in the elderly? What are the challenges involved in identifying and treating older alcoholics?

Question 11

It is difficult to define the developmental tasks of old age because

A)as people age, their functional age may be more important than their chronological age.
B)as life expectancy increases, the stage of old age keeps getting longer.
C)as people age, they become more alike instead of demonstrating individual developmental characteristics.
D)their functional age may be more informative, and the stage of old age keeps getting longer.

Question 12

Why is it so difficult to define "old age?" Discuss the factors, including longevity and diversity, that contribute to the problems of coming up with a definition of "old."

Question 13

Loss of height, decreased lung capacity, loss of neurons, and fat redistribution are

A)consequences of smoking.
B)symptoms of dementia.
C)physical changes occurring as a result of aging.
D)biological changes occurring in older adults with heart disease.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is TRUE about disengagement theory?

A)Older people experience well-being when they are active in many roles.
B)Mutual withdrawal occurs between the individual and society in late adulthood.
C)Older people strive to maintain their cognitive abilities.
D)Older people strive to avoid disease and maintain physical functioning.

Question 15

Betty walks three times a week and goes to a water aerobics class on Saturdays at her community pool. Her friend Helen prefers to watch soap operas and play bridge. When they each had their annual doctor's exam, Betty scored three points higher than Helen on the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE). What might account for these differences?

A)Helen does not have any children, and Betty has three.
B)Betty eats a higher fat diet than Helen.
C)Betty lives in a warmer climate than Helen.
D)Studies indicate that physical activity can increase cognitive ability.

Question 16

In the book, several theories of aging are described. Choose two of these and discuss possible practice implications of these theories in nursing homes, senior centers, or adult day care, or in individual work with older adults.

Question 17

According Erikson, old age is the stage of

A)reward vs. disappointment.
B)acceptance vs. denial.
C)integrity vs. despair.
D)generativity vs. stagnation.

Question 18

A person's functional age may encompass

A)interests and hobbies.
B)family and friends.
C)the life-course perspective.
D)physical functioning and psychological strengths.

Question 19

Older adults typically share all of the following common characteristics EXCEPT

A)a shift from connectedness to isolation.
B)emotional investment in retaining familiar objects.
C)living life in the present.
D)a desire to leave a legacy.

Question 20

Do students think it is a good idea to try and define "successful aging?" Does Rowe & Kahn's model do a good job? What would the students add?

Question 21

The suicide rate is highest among

A)older white males.
B)older white females.
C)minority groups.
D)adolescents.

Question 22

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or other dementia?

A)They are often prescribed medications to help their memory.
B)They often display a lack of motivation or apathy.
C)They cannot benefit from supportive treatments such as psycho-education.
D)They lack emotional reactivity.

Question 23

While adapting to change in late life, with regard to "sense of self," people tend to

A)give up earlier relationships with friends and family.
B)focus on being old and develop an "old" identity.
C)identify with their former occupations and roles.
D)change their basic personality.

Question 24

Major depressive disorders

A)are very common in older people.
B)are diagnosed in a relatively small percentage of older people.
C)are much like the sadness and unhappiness felt by people in confronting everyday life.
D)usually do not respond to anti-depressant medications.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is FALSE about marital relationships in old age?

A)They vary: Some remain close and loving while others do not.
B)They generally decerase in satisfaction once the couple finishes raising children and is alone together again.
C)They provide important support if one partner becomes sick or impaired.
D)They can often compensate for each other's impairments.

Question 26

Fred enjoys sharing old memories and experiences with his friends, family, and home health care worker. He talks about his job as a fire fighter, being a soldier in World War II, and the joys of raising two daughters. Fred is most likely engaging in

A)reminiscence.
B)bereavement.
C)empathy.
D)elderspeak.

Question 27

Depression in late life is often marked by all these EXCEPT

A)excessive social withdrawal.
B)anhedonia-loss of enjoyment.
C)less focus on somatic complaints.
D)history of recent losses.

Question 28

Knowledge remains stable up until age ______.

A)60
B)70
C)80
D)90

Question 29

______________ described the stages of the dying process as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

A)Kastenbaum
B)Kubler-Ross
C)Patterson
D)Worden

Question 30

A large-scale survey by the National Council on Aging (Cutler, 2001)found that roughly _________ of women in their 60s reported being sexually active.

A)one quarter
B)one third
C)half
D)two thirds

Question 31

Studies mentioned in the text indicated that all of these factors have an impact on how involved and influential grandparents are with their grandchildren, EXCEPT

A)geographical distance.
B)whether the parent is present or absent.
C)maternal vs. paternal grandparents.
D)sex of the grandchild.

Question 32

Which ethnic group is most likely to report poor health problems?

A)Hispanics
B)Caucasians
C)African Americans
D)Asians

Question 33

The level of alcohol consumption needed for problem use is usually lower in older people because

A)older people usually choose drinks that contain higher percentages of alcohol.
B)older people weigh less than they did when they were younger.
C)metabolic changes allow alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly.
D)older people can't remember how many drinks they had.

Question 34

Which of the following statements is FALSE about cognitive functioning in older adults?

A)Mental decline varies from one individual to the next.
B)Mental stimulation can assist with memory functioning.
C)Problems with memory usually indicate Alzheimer's disease.
D)Speed of information processing declines with age.

Question 35

A Living Will

A)states that a person has the right to be resuscitated or kept alive by artificial means.
B)allows a person the right to an assisted suicide or euthanasia in the case of terminal illness.
C)allows a person to document that he/she does not want to be kept alive by artificial means but desires care only for comfort.
D)can be used for illnesses that are not terminal as well.

Question 36

The durable power of attorney for health care

A)designates a person to make medical decisions for an ill person who is no longer capable of making those decisions.
B)designates somenoe as trustee of an ill person's will.
C)applies only to the terminally ill.
D)is not recommended unless someone is very close to death.

Question 37

Jean is 75 years old and has recently moved in with her daughter. Jean's husband died when she was 55 and she has been on her own ever since. Jean is noticing now that when she goes to get something in another room she often forgets what she was going to get and has to return to the original room to remember. When she wakes up at night she often forgets the way to the bathroom in this new home. Jean sometimes calls her grandchildren by the wrong name. Jean is probably suffering from

A)Alzheimer's disease.
B)depression.
C)cognitive impairment.
D)normal aging and adjustment.

Question 38

Which of the following types of memory is/are shown to decline with age?

A)Episodic memory
B)Long-term memory
C)Episodic and long-term memory
D)No types of memory decline with age.

Question 39

The loss of a spouse may be more difficult for

A)older people without adequate family or social support.
B)older people who are highly religious.
C)older people who were caregivers to the spouse.
D)gay or lesbian partners.

Question 40

Ruth tells Martha all of her troubles. Though they live across town from each other, they talk on the phone or see each other at least once a week. Martha never hesitates to give Ruth much needed advice.  However, Ruth would never dream of asking Martha for money. Martha is probably Ruth's

A)sister.
B)friend.
C)neighbor.
D)parent.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is FALSE about older women as compared to older men?

A)Older women live longer than older men.
B)Older women are more likely to live alone, whereas older men are more likely to live with a spouse.
C)Older women are less likely to be institutionalized than older men.
D)Older women have more chronic disabilities than older men.

Question 42

Which of the following statements about the roles of elders among ethnic minority groups is FALSE?

A)Many African-American and Latino elders live with their adult children so they can provide child-care for their grandchildren.
B)Many elders from ethnic minority groups act as role models for younger generations to retain the stand-alone nuclear family structure.
C)Many ethnic minority cultures traditionally provide for and honor their elders.
D)Many Native American older women serve as "head of household" and offer guidance and support to younger generations.

Question 43

Life expectancy

A)refers to the upper limit human beings can live.
B)refers to the number of years the average person may live who was born in a particular year.
C)has not increased significantly in the last several decades.
D)All of the above

Question 44

Ageism refers to

A)thinking that someone is older than they really are.
B)someone who acts older than they really are.
C)offering older people senior discounts simply because they are older.
D)stereotyping or biased thinking about someone because they are old.

Question 45

Which group is most likely to be overlooked for alcohol screening?

A)Older women
B)Older men
C)Younger women
D)Younger men

Question 46

What are the two most common types of chronic health conditions experienced by people over age 65?

A)Osteoporosis and respiratory diseases
B)Diabetes and heart disease
C)Hypertension and arthritis
D)Cancer and Alzheimer's disease

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a distinct grandparenting style?

A)Influential
B)Supportive
C)Detached
D)Active

Question 48

Which of the following statements is FALSE? An older adult who cannot or chooses not to remain at home has the option of living in

A)an adult foster home, which provides a variety of services in a family-like environment.
B)a nursing home, which provides skilled medical care, rehabilitation services, and custodial care.
C)an assisted-living facility, which provides meals and some personal care assistance.
D)has very limited options.

Question 49

Which of the following statements is TRUE about older adults living in poverty?

A)They are more likely than younger adults to stay in poverty because they have less resources and earning potential.
B)They are more likely to be male than female because males have a higher rate of substance abuse.
C)They are more likely to be receiving social security benefits than other sources of income.
D)They are more likely to be people of color because more Caucasian people retire.

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of Alzheimer's disease?

A)Forgetting how to add and substract
B)Substituting strange words for forgotten words
C)Misplacing things in unusual places and having no memory of putting them there
D)Not feeling like doing a chore

Question 51

Which of the following states is FALSE? In assessing elder abuse, possible red flags a social worker should look for include

A)a hypervigilent or nervous or fearful older person.
B)family member mental illness.
C)an overtly hostile or belittling caregiver.
D)a young caregiver.

Question 52

During what phase of adjustment to retirement are people the most satisfied?

A)13 to 18 months after retirement
B)After the first year
C)Just after retirement
D)More than 5 years after retirement

Question 53

The largest percentage of elder abuse is abuse by

A)a long-term care facility worker.
B)a spouse or an adult child.
C)a neighbor.
D)a paid in-home caregiver.