Deck 9: Meeting Safety Needs of Older Adults

Question 1

Which of the following would least improve home security?

A) Peephole in the door at a convenient height
B) Brightly lit porch
C) Large dog with a loud bark
D) Hook and eye latch on the screen door

Answer 1

Hook and eye latch on the screen door

Question 2

What would be an appropriate suggestion for an 80-year-old woman who recently placed a deadbolt lock on her door?

A) Keep the door securely locked.
B) Apply similar locks on the windows.
C) Leave the door unlocked, with the key in place.
D) Replace the lock with a security chain.

Answer 2

Leave the door unlocked, with the key in place.

Question 3

What should the home health nurse suggest in the case of a fire in the home of the older adult? (Select all that apply.)

A) Keep a flashlight at the bedside
B) Use an appropriate fire extinguisher to control fire
C) Keep the doors open for an easy escape route
D) Call 911 before exiting the home
E) Open the windows to decrease smoke

Answer 3

Keep a flashlight at the bedside

Question 4

The daughter of an 80-year-old woman asks the home health nurse for advice in selecting a cane for her mother, who has an unsteady gait. What cane would be a poor choice?

A) Wooden cane with a rubber tip
B) Four-footed cane with a rubber grip
C) Clear acrylic cane with a nonslip tip
D) Colorful carved cane with a wooden tip

Question 5

The nurse is volunteering at a homeless shelter. What intervention should be taken for a patient admitted with severe hypothermia?

A) Give the person hot coffee or soup.
B) Place the person in a warm bath.
C) Briskly rub the person's hands.
D) Wrap the person in blankets.

Question 6

Which of the following may be a thermoregulation risk in the older adult?

A) Inactivity
B) Eating highly spiced foods
C) Being overweight
D) Mental illness

Question 7

The home health nurse conducts a safety assessment in a patient's home. Which of the following would be identified as a fire hazard?

A) Baking soda near the stovetop
B) A smoke detector in the kitchen
C) Multiple appliances plugged into one outlet
D) A metal container for cigarettes

Question 8

What is the primary focus of a fall prevention program in a long-term care facility?

A) Improving balance
B) Improving muscle mass
C) Improving circulation
D) Increase in the knowledge base about falls

Question 9

What would be the initial choice of interventions to help prevent a fall in a confused 85-year-old extended-care facility patient?

A) Use of a vest restraint
B) Use of an electronic sensor alarm
C) Placement of a wheelchair between the wall and dining table
D) A tray table attached to the arms of the wheelchair

Question 10

The home health nurse is assessing the home environment of an 85-year-old patient with Parkinson disease. What symptom of Parkinson disease makes the patient at an increased risk of falls?

A) Postural hypotension
B) Cognitive changes
C) Altered vision
D) Altered gait

Question 11

The home health nurse counsels a family in making safe driving "rules" for their 85-year-old father. Which rule would not be effective in promoting safety?

A) Limit driving to nearby areas with easy access.
B) Plan ahead and know where you are going.
C) Wear prescribed glasses and hearing aids.
D) Drive below the speed limit to maintain control of the car.

Question 12

What does the nurse hope to achieve by teaching tai chi daily in the long-term care facility?

A) Stimulate intellectual activity
B) Encourage interaction
C) Improve coordination
D) Demonstrate cultural awareness

Question 13

Why is it important for the home health nurse to interview an 82-year-old patient following the patient's fall in the home?

A) So that the incident can be reflected in the home health nurse's documentation
B) To help the patient gain insight into the cause of the fall
C) In order to guarantee no further falls
D) To collect data for research purposes

Question 14

In order to decrease fall risk due to orthostatic hypotension, what advice should be given to an older adult who is taking medication for hypertension?

A) Ambulate with a walker.
B) Avoid hot baths.
C) Avoid climbing stairs.
D) Sit on the side of the bed for a moment before ambulation.

Question 15

What is a common reason that an older adult may deny that he has fallen?

A) Fear that he will fall again
B) Fear of being hospitalized for treatment
C) Afraid of being seen as frail and dependent
D) Fear of being considered clumsy

Question 16

The nurse is aware that the older adult is at greater risk for hypothermia than a younger person because the older adult has a diminished ability to:

A) convert glycogen to glucose.
B) select appropriate clothing or bed linen.
C) shiver.
D) constrict vessels.

Question 17

What is an expected assessment finding in an older adult suffering from hyperthermia?

A) Excessive perspiration
B) Bradycardia
C) Temperature of 100° F
D) Leg cramps

Question 18

What are internal factors that threaten the safety of the older adult? (Select all that apply.)

A) Decrease in flexibility
B) Slowed reaction time
C) Gait changes
D) Thermal hazards
E) Postural changes

Question 19

Why does the home health nurse give his 90-year-old patient a framed poster that says "We need each other."?

A) Insure that the patient will take care not to fall.
B) Remind the patient to ask for assistance when needed.
C) Encourage the patient to take pride in his independence.
D) Reinforce that the patient should not attempt any activity without help.

Question 20

An older adult man has been diagnosed as having diminished depth perception. What does the nurse expect him to have difficulty with in his everyday activities?

A) Judging the height of steps.
B) Reading small print on food labels.
C) Reading street signs.
D) Seeing in dim light.

Question 21

The nurse takes into consideration that the most common injuries to the older adult are the result of __________.

Question 22

The nurse in a long-term care facility awards stickers to certified nursing assistants who consistently __________. (Select all that apply.)

A) report broken tiles in the shower room and bathrooms
B) mop up spills
C) assist residents to hurry
D) remind residents to use walkers
E) retie residents' shoelaces

Question 23

The home health nurse is assessing the patient's home. Which of the following would be identified as a fall risk? (Select all that apply.)

A) Brightly lit rooms
B) Pantry food at an accessible level
C) Colorful scatter rugs marking doorways and steps
D) Wearing comfortable laced tennis shoes
E) Attractive, low, magazine rack beside a chair

Question 24

The daughter of a home health patient is concerned about her 92-year-old father who continues to drive regularly. Which observations would indicate deteriorated driving skills? (Select all that apply.)

A) Paint scrapes on the mailbox at the curb
B) Friends calling him to get rides to the grocery store
C) Choosing not to drive at night because of night blindness
D) Difficulty turning his head
E) Carefully planning routes to avoid heavy traffic

Question 25

The home health nurse has evaluated the community for measures that support pedestrian safety. What safety measures would be appropriate modifications to increase safety in the community? (Select all that apply.)

A) Pedestrian-controlled crosswalks
B) Safety islands on wide street intersections
C) Decreased time to cross at walks
D) Clearly marked crosswalks at intersections
E) Overhead crossings over busy streets

Question 26

What are external factors that may be a safety threat to the older adult? (Select all that apply.)

A) Fire hazards
B) Lack of home security
C) Vehicular accidents
D) Thermal hazards
E) Sensory deficit

Question 27

What factors increase the risk of vehicular accidents for the older adult? (Select all that apply.)

A) Increased reflex time
B) Cognitive disorders
C) Altered depth perception
D) Changes in night vision
E) Reduced flexibility

Question 28

What telephone modifications would increase safety for the older adult? (Select all that apply.)

A) Placement of phones at bedside and next to a favorite chair
B) Programming an auto dial function for quick dialing
C) Using an answering machine with a male voice
D) Replacing the phone cord with a 15-foot cord for ease in carrying around the phone
E) Selecting a phone with large numbers