CNA Basic Human Anatomy and Age-Related Changes 2

Question 1

An 82-year-old resident with no history of diabetes complains that their food tastes bland and has started adding excessive salt. This age-related change, which can lead to poor nutrition, is primarily due to a decline in which sense?

Accepted Answer

Olfactory (smell) function

Answer

While the sense of taste (gustatory function) does decline with age, the most significant reason older adults perceive food as bland is due to a diminished sense of smell (olfaction). The two senses are closely linked, and much of what we perceive as flavor is actually aroma. A decline in smell is more pronounced with aging than the decline in taste.

Question 2

A CNA is assisting a 78-year-old male resident who has been waking up 3-4 times per night to urinate (nocturia). Which age-related physiological change is the MOST likely contributor to this resident's condition, independent of prostate issues?

Accepted Answer

Reduced bladder capacity and changes in circadian rhythms affecting urine production

Answer

As people age, the bladder's maximum capacity to hold urine decreases, and its walls become less elastic. Additionally, the normal circadian rhythm that reduces urine production during the night can become less pronounced, leading to nocturnal polyuria (increased urine output at night). This combination forces more frequent nighttime urination.

Question 3

Which of the following is considered a NORMAL, non-pathological cognitive change associated with the aging nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Taking longer to recall the name of a new acquaintance

Answer

Normal aging can involve a subtle decline in the speed of processing information and word-finding ability. Taking a bit longer to recall a name is a common, benign example of this. In contrast, getting lost in familiar places, significant personality changes, and forgetting the use of everyday items are potential signs of a more serious condition like dementia and are not part of normal aging.

Question 4

A frail 88-year-old resident is being cared for during a heatwave. The CNA should be especially vigilant for signs of hyperthermia because, compared to a younger person, this resident's body has a reduced ability to cool itself. This is primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

Attenuated sweat response and less efficient skin blood flow

Answer

With advanced age, the body's ability to thermoregulate is impaired. Key changes include a reduced or delayed sweat response and less efficient cutaneous vasodilation (widening of blood vessels in the skin). Both of these mechanisms are crucial for dissipating heat, and their decline makes older adults more susceptible to overheating (hyperthermia).

Question 5

A CNA observes a 90-year-old resident, who is otherwise cognitively intact, becoming increasingly hesitant and shuffling when walking on uneven surfaces. This difficulty is most directly linked to an age-related decline in:

Accepted Answer

Proprioception, the sense of body position

Answer

Proprioception is the body's ability to sense its own position, movement, and balance in space. This sense declines with age due to changes in sensory receptors in muscles and joints and slower processing by the central nervous system. This decline directly impacts balance and coordination, increasing fall risk, especially on uneven ground.

CNA Practice Test

CNA Practice Test

CNA Basic Human Anatomy and Age-Related Changes 2