CSA Senior Health and Wellness 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which blood pressure classification is considered hypertension Stage 1 under the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines?
- 130–139 / 80–89 mmHg (Correct answer)
- 120–129 / less than 80 mmHg
- 140–159 / 90–99 mmHg
- Less than 120 / less than 80 mmHg
Correct answer: 130–139 / 80–89 mmHg
The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines lowered the Stage 1 hypertension threshold to 130/80 mmHg, affecting millions of older adults.
Question 2: What does 'functional age' mean in the context of assessing senior health and wellness?
- A measure of an individual's ability to perform daily tasks, independent of chronological age (Correct answer)
- The age at which Medicare eligibility begins
- The biological age determined by telomere length
- A legal classification used to determine guardianship
Correct answer: A measure of an individual's ability to perform daily tasks, independent of chronological age
Functional age reflects how well a person can perform activities of daily living and is often more meaningful than chronological age in care planning.
Question 3: Which pain assessment tool is MOST appropriate for seniors with moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment who cannot self-report pain?
- PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia) (Correct answer)
- Numeric Rating Scale (0–10)
- Visual Analog Scale
- McGill Pain Questionnaire
Correct answer: PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia)
PAINAD assesses behavioral pain indicators such as facial grimacing, body language, and breathing patterns for non-verbal seniors with dementia.
Question 4: A senior is prescribed a statin for cholesterol but also takes grapefruit juice daily. This is concerning because grapefruit:
- Inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes, increasing statin blood levels and toxicity risk (Correct answer)
- Accelerates statin metabolism, reducing its effectiveness
- Blocks statin absorption in the gut entirely
- Causes a dangerous drop in blood pressure when combined with statins
Correct answer: Inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes, increasing statin blood levels and toxicity risk
Grapefruit inhibits CYP3A4 liver enzymes, which metabolize many statins, causing dangerously high drug levels and increased risk of myopathy.
Question 5: Which of the following is a hallmark symptom that distinguishes Parkinson's disease from essential tremor in older adults?
- Resting tremor that improves with intentional movement (Correct answer)
- Tremor that worsens with intentional movement
- Tremor only in the head and neck
- Tremor triggered exclusively by caffeine intake
Correct answer: Resting tremor that improves with intentional movement
Parkinson's tremor is a resting tremor—present at rest and reduced with voluntary movement—while essential tremor worsens with movement.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'Minimum Data Set (MDS)' in nursing home settings?
- A standardized comprehensive assessment of residents' health, functional status, and care needs (Correct answer)
- A minimum staffing requirement form for CMS compliance
- A financial tool to calculate Medicare reimbursement rates
- A dietary tracking log for nutritional compliance
Correct answer: A standardized comprehensive assessment of residents' health, functional status, and care needs
The MDS is a federally mandated, standardized assessment tool used in nursing facilities to evaluate resident needs and guide care planning.
Question 7: Which condition is described as 'the geriatric giant' due to its prevalence and significant impact on quality of life in older adults?
- Urinary incontinence (Correct answer)
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Type 2 diabetes
Correct answer: Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is one of the 'geriatric giants'—highly prevalent, underreported, and significantly affecting dignity and quality of life in seniors.
CSA Senior Health and Wellness 4
Which blood pressure classification is considered hypertension Stage 1 under the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines?