Gerontological Nursing Flashcards

Which tool is widely used to assess delirium in older hospitalized patients?

Answer: Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is the gold standard tool for identifying delirium in clinical settings.

An 82-year-old patient is started on a new benzodiazepine. According to the Beers Criteria, this is concerning because:

Answer: They increase the risk of falls, cognitive impairment, and delirium in older adults

The AGS Beers Criteria lists benzodiazepines as potentially inappropriate in older adults due to increased fall and delirium risk.

Which physiologic change of normal aging most directly affects drug metabolism in older adults?

Answer: Decreased hepatic blood flow and liver mass

Decreased hepatic blood flow and liver mass reduce first-pass metabolism and hepatic drug clearance in older adults.

A nurse is assessing an older adult for functional status. Which assessment tool evaluates basic activities of daily living (ADLs)?

Answer: Both B and C

Both the Katz Index and the Barthel Index measure basic ADLs such as bathing, dressing, and toileting.

Which finding best distinguishes dementia from delirium in an older patient?

Answer: Gradual onset over months to years

Gradual insidious onset over months to years is the hallmark that distinguishes dementia from the acute onset of delirium.

What is the most common cause of dementia in the United States?

Answer: Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease accounts for approximately 60–80% of all dementia cases in the United States.