Assessment & Screening in Gerontological Practice Flashcards

During a home safety assessment for an older adult at risk for falls, which environmental modification has the strongest evidence base for fall prevention?

Answer: Removing loose rugs and improving bathroom grab bar installation

Removing trip hazards such as loose rugs and installing bathroom grab bars have the strongest evidence for preventing fall-related injuries in home settings.

The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale measures which level of functional ability?

Answer: Complex tasks needed for independent community living

The Lawton IADL Scale assesses higher-order functions (managing finances, using transportation, shopping, medication management) required for independent living in the community.

A gerontological specialist is selecting a tool to assess an older adult for elder mistreatment. Which screening instrument is specifically designed for this purpose?

Answer: Elder Assessment Instrument (EAI)

The EAI is a validated, comprehensive tool designed for healthcare professionals to screen for signs and symptoms of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment.

Which of the following best characterizes the 'Get Up and Go' test compared to the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test?

Answer: Get Up and Go is a qualitative observational version without timing

The original 'Get Up and Go' test is a qualitative, observational assessment rated on a 5-point scale; the TUG added objective timing to improve reliability.

In gerontological assessment, '5-meter gait speed' is a reliable predictor of which outcome?

Answer: Mortality, disability, and hospitalization risk

Slow gait speed (below 0.8 m/s) is a robust predictor of multiple adverse outcomes including mortality, disability, hospitalization, and falls in older adults.

When conducting a spiritual and existential assessment of an older adult, the FICA tool evaluates which domains?

Answer: Faith, Importance, Community, and Address in care

FICA assesses Faith/Belief, Importance/Influence, Community, and how to Address spiritual needs in care — a structured spiritual history tool used in clinical practice.

A gerontological care manager completes a comprehensive geriatric assessment and finds that an 80-year-old scores positive on frailty screening. Which tool most likely identified frailty using phenotype criteria (weakness, exhaustion, low activity, slowness, and unintentional weight loss)?

Answer: Fried Frailty Phenotype

The Fried Frailty Phenotype defines frailty by five measurable physical criteria: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, weakness (grip strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity.