FMCLA Geriatric Care and Elder Medicine 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which validated tool is most commonly used to screen for cognitive impairment in a primary care setting?
- PHQ-9
- Mini-Cog (Correct answer)
- GAD-7
- Braden Scale
Correct answer: Mini-Cog
The Mini-Cog combines a 3-item recall and clock-drawing test, providing a brief and validated dementia screening tool.
Question 2: A 78-year-old male presents with acute confusion, fluctuating consciousness, and inattention. This presentation is most consistent with:
- Alzheimer's dementia
- Delirium (Correct answer)
- Major depressive disorder
- Lewy body dementia
Correct answer: Delirium
Delirium is characterized by acute onset, fluctuating course, and inattention, distinguishing it from chronic progressive dementia.
Question 3: Which medication class is most associated with fall risk in elderly patients?
- ACE inhibitors
- Benzodiazepines (Correct answer)
- Statins
- Metformin
Correct answer: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines cause sedation, impaired balance, and psychomotor slowing, making them a major fall risk in older adults.
Question 4: According to the Beers Criteria, which analgesic should be avoided in elderly patients due to risk of GI bleeding and renal impairment?
- Acetaminophen
- Tramadol
- NSAIDs (Correct answer)
- Codeine
Correct answer: NSAIDs
NSAIDs are explicitly listed in the Beers Criteria as high-risk medications in older adults due to GI, renal, and cardiovascular adverse effects.
Question 5: Which functional assessment tool evaluates basic activities of daily living (ADLs) in older adults?
- MMSE
- Katz Index (Correct answer)
- Tinetti Scale
- Geriatric Depression Scale
Correct answer: Katz Index
The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living assesses bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.
Question 6: A 72-year-old woman with osteoporosis sustains a hip fracture from a minor fall. Which bisphosphonate is commonly used for fracture prevention in this setting?
- Raloxifene
- Alendronate (Correct answer)
- Calcitonin
- Denosumab
Correct answer: Alendronate
Alendronate (a bisphosphonate) reduces fracture risk and is first-line pharmacotherapy for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
FMCLA Geriatric Care and Elder Medicine 1
Which validated tool is most commonly used to screen for cognitive impairment in a primary care setting?