Occupational Therapist Test Geriatric Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An OT is evaluating a 78-year-old with moderate dementia for fall risk. Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate?
- Berg Balance Scale
- Timed Up and Go (TUG)
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment
The Tinetti POMA assesses both gait and balance, making it well-suited for older adults with cognitive impairment who may struggle with more complex balance tasks.
Question 2: Which intervention is BEST for an older adult experiencing 'sundowning' symptoms in a skilled nursing facility?
- Increase daytime napping to reduce nighttime agitation
- Provide bright light therapy in the morning (Correct answer)
- Restrict fluid intake after noon
- Administer sedatives at dusk
Correct answer: Provide bright light therapy in the morning
Morning bright light therapy helps regulate circadian rhythms, reducing the late-day confusion and agitation associated with sundowning.
Question 3: A 72-year-old post-hip replacement is fearful of bending. Which adaptive equipment is ESSENTIAL during self-care?
- Shower chair
- Long-handled sponge and reacher (Correct answer)
- Grab bars
- Non-slip bath mat
Correct answer: Long-handled sponge and reacher
A long-handled sponge and reacher allow the patient to perform lower-body hygiene without violating hip precautions (typically no flexion beyond 90°).
Question 4: Which sensory change is MOST likely to affect medication management in older adults?
- Decreased proprioception
- Reduced tactile discrimination
- Diminished vision (Correct answer)
- Decreased vestibular function
Correct answer: Diminished vision
Diminished vision makes it difficult for older adults to read pill labels and distinguish between similarly appearing medications, posing a significant safety risk.
Question 5: An OT is using a life review approach with a 85-year-old in hospice care. This aligns with which Erikson psychosocial stage?
- Generativity vs. stagnation
- Intimacy vs. isolation
- Ego integrity vs. despair (Correct answer)
- Industry vs. inferiority
Correct answer: Ego integrity vs. despair
Erikson's final stage, ego integrity vs. despair, involves reflecting on one's life, making life review a developmentally appropriate therapeutic strategy for older adults.
Question 6: Which type of memory is typically BEST preserved in normal aging?
- Episodic memory
- Working memory
- Procedural memory (Correct answer)
- Prospective memory
Correct answer: Procedural memory
Procedural memory (how to perform learned motor skills and routines) tends to be preserved in normal aging, even when other memory types decline.
Question 7: A 69-year-old with COPD reports fatigue that limits meal preparation. What is the FIRST priority OT intervention?
- Recommend a meal delivery service
- Teach energy conservation techniques (Correct answer)
- Prescribe supplemental oxygen for cooking
- Refer to a dietitian
Correct answer: Teach energy conservation techniques
Teaching energy conservation techniques (e.g., seated work, pacing, prioritizing tasks) directly addresses the functional limitation while preserving the client's independence and autonomy.
Occupational Therapist Test Geriatric Care 2
An OT is evaluating a 78-year-old with moderate dementia for fall risk.
Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate?