Deck 3: Communicating With Older Persons

Question 1

The nurse asks an older female person, "Which countries were your favourite travelling destinations?" Which strategy is the most important for the nurse to incorporate into communicating with this older person?

A)Maintain a sharp focus on the older person.
B)Allocate more time for answering.
C)Seek validation of understanding.
D)Avoid judgement of the responses.

Answer 1

Allocate more time for answering.

Question 2

Which of the following is a good strategy to use for teaching older-person learners?

A)Use printed materials in soft colours.
B)Provide extra time for the learner to respond.
C)Use a pleasant soprano voice in audio materials.
D)Cover a diverse range of topics in each session.

Answer 2

Provide extra time for the learner to respond.

Question 3

An older person receives speech therapy for dysarthria.Which advice should the nurse offer the older person to enhance the speech therapist's work?

A)Speak quietly in a quiet location.
B)Articulate several words in a row.
C)Practise facial exercises regularly.
D)Restrict the mouth from opening too far.

Answer 3

Practise facial exercises regularly.

Question 4

Which of the following is a true statement concerning communication with an older person who has aphasia?

A)Communication should be simplified, using very basic words.
B)The older person should be exposed to a variety of different staff members to stimulate rehabilitation.
C)A nurse should pay attention to what speech and word recognition patterns the patient uses.
D)Alternative or augmentative tools exist for only a few types of aphasia.

Question 5

Which chronic condition is the most common sensory impairment in Canadians over the age of 60?

A)Hearing loss
B)Hypertension
C)Visual impairment
D)Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true about forming a group with older persons?

A)Leaders must be prepared for members to fail to show up as a result of illness, death, or other reasons.
B)Groups should include persons with diverse levels of cognitive ability.
C)A group leader who is prone to depression will be better able to empathize with the depression and losses suffered by group members.
D)The evening is a good time for a group to meet.

Question 7

Which type of question should the nurse avoid when communicating with an older person who has aphasia?

A)The nurse should avoid questions that validate understanding.
B)The nurse should avoid questions that have open-ended answers.
C)The nurse should avoid questions that require a yes or no answer.
D)The nurse should avoid asking several questions in a series.

Question 8

Dysarthria is defined by which of the following descriptions?

A)Dysarthria is difficulty in coming up with the correct word.
B)Dysarthria is difficulty in physically producing the sounds of speech.
C)Dysarthria is difficulty in speaking when the person is thinking about what to say.
D)Dysarthria is difficulty in understanding speech.

Question 9

The nurse needs to obtain information from an older person who has dysarthria.If the nurse experiences difficulty in understanding the older person, which one of the following actions would be the nurse's best response?

A)Allow for several brief conversations.
B)Repeat a part that is not understood.
C)Ask questions using very simple terms.
D)Provide a questionnaire with large type.

Question 10

A patient says, "Peace wing we uh meng meng." What is your response?

A)"I'm sorry, that doesn't make any sense."
B)"Please try to speak more clearly."
C)"Excuse me, I didn't understand that."
D)"What would you like me to bring you?"

Question 11

The nurse has to teach an 85-year-old male and his family about a new medication.Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to enhance patient teaching?

A)Display the medication close to the family while teaching.
B)Tell the family members they will need to administer the medication.
C)Speak slowly, use repetition, and paraphrase for the patient.
D)Face the patient directly and speak clearly in a quiet place.

Question 12

Which of the following strategies is most useful for communicating with an older person who is experiencing cognitive impairment?

A)Speak normally, because the older person can understand what you are saying.
B)Communicate infrequently with the older person, to diminish frustration.
C)Correct the older person and repeat until you are understood.
D)Use multiple ways of communicating, such as by gesture and touch, as well as speech.

Question 13

An older male person who wears a hearing aid waits in the radiology department.The department is busy and noisy, so the nurse asks the patient if he wants to wait or reschedule the appointment.Which of the following is the most important strategy for the nurse to implement for effective communication with this man?

A)Face the man while sitting at his level.
B)Speak with him in a private, quiet setting.
C)Verify that the information is understood.
D)Ask if hearing is better in one ear or another.

Question 14

The vision of a female patient is deteriorating, and she is depressed about her condition.Which of the following nursing interventions is most likely to address both conditions?

A)Provide adequate lighting without glare.
B)Maintain a consistent room arrangement.
C)Train her with low-vision assistive devices.
D)Offer your arm when ambulating in the hall.

Question 15

An older person living in long-term care begins to forget where activities occur, so the nurse engages her in reminiscence.Which goal of reminiscence is the most relevant to improve the nurse's communication with this older person?

A)Reminiscence provides cognitive stimulation.
B)Reminiscence helps to obtain information about fears.
C)Reminiscence offers a pleasurable experience.
D)Reminiscence can improve depressive symptoms.