Gerontological Nurse Test Nutrition and Hydration in the Elderly 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which nutritional deficiency is most commonly identified in older adults residing in long-term care facilities?
- Iron deficiency
- Vitamin D deficiency (Correct answer)
- Thiamine deficiency
- Zinc deficiency
Correct answer: Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in institutionalized elderly due to limited sun exposure and decreased skin synthesis capacity with aging.
Question 2: How does normal aging affect the sensation of thirst in older adults?
- Thirst sensation increases significantly with age
- Thirst sensation remains unchanged throughout the lifespan
- Thirst sensation decreases, increasing the risk of dehydration (Correct answer)
- Thirst sensation fluctuates based on ambient temperature only
Correct answer: Thirst sensation decreases, increasing the risk of dehydration
Aging causes a blunting of the hypothalamic thirst mechanism, making older adults less likely to perceive or respond to dehydration cues.
Question 3: According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a score of 17 to 23.5 indicates which nutritional status?
- Normal nutritional status
- Well-nourished
- At risk for malnutrition (Correct answer)
- Malnourished
Correct answer: At risk for malnutrition
MNA scores of 17–23.5 indicate risk for malnutrition; scores below 17 indicate malnutrition and scores of 24 or above indicate normal nutritional status.
Question 4: What is the recommended daily protein intake for healthy older adults?
- 0.4–0.5 g/kg body weight
- 0.8–1.2 g/kg body weight (Correct answer)
- 1.5–2.0 g/kg body weight
- 2.5–3.0 g/kg body weight
Correct answer: 0.8–1.2 g/kg body weight
Current evidence supports 0.8–1.2 g/kg/day for healthy older adults, which is at or slightly above the standard adult RDA to preserve muscle mass.
Question 5: Which condition is most directly associated with inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake in older adults?
- Anemia
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Osteoporosis (Correct answer)
- Hyponatremia
Correct answer: Osteoporosis
Calcium and vitamin D are essential for maintaining bone mineral density; chronic deficiency leads to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk in older adults.
Question 6: Which laboratory value best reflects chronic protein-calorie malnutrition in an older adult?
- Hemoglobin
- Serum albumin (Correct answer)
- Blood glucose
- Serum sodium
Correct answer: Serum albumin
Serum albumin has a half-life of approximately 20 days and reflects long-term protein status; levels below 3.5 g/dL indicate protein-calorie malnutrition.
Question 7: An older adult with dysphagia can manage soft, moist foods cut into small pieces but cannot handle hard or crunchy textures. Which IDDSI diet level is most appropriate?
- Thin liquids (Level 1)
- Pureed (Level 4)
- Minced and moist (Level 5) (Correct answer)
- Regular (Level 7)
Correct answer: Minced and moist (Level 5)
IDDSI Level 5 (Minced and Moist) is designed for patients who require foods cut into small pieces and need moist textures to facilitate safe swallowing.
Gerontological Nurse Test Nutrition and Hydration in the Elderly 1
Which nutritional deficiency is most commonly identified in older adults residing in long-term care facilities?