Occupational Therapist Test Geriatric Care 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which environmental modification MOST reduces fall risk for an older adult with impaired depth perception?
- Install motion-activated lighting
- Apply contrasting color tape to step edges (Correct answer)
- Remove all area rugs
- Place furniture closer together for support
Correct answer: Apply contrasting color tape to step edges
Contrasting color tape on step edges provides visual cues that compensate for impaired depth perception, making transitions between surfaces more visible.
Question 2: An OT is training a caregiver to assist a 77-year-old with Parkinson's disease during transfers. Which cue is MOST effective for initiating movement?
- Tactile cues on the shoulder
- Rhythmic auditory cues (Correct answer)
- Slow verbal directions
- Visual demonstration only
Correct answer: Rhythmic auditory cues
Rhythmic auditory cues (e.g., counting, metronome) are highly effective for Parkinson's patients as they leverage the auditory-motor pathway to bypass defective basal ganglia function.
Question 3: Under Medicare Part A, OT services in a skilled nursing facility are covered when the patient requires:
- Maintenance therapy only
- Skilled OT services that are medically necessary (Correct answer)
- Any therapy the patient requests
- Custodial care for chronic conditions
Correct answer: Skilled OT services that are medically necessary
Medicare Part A covers skilled OT services that are medically necessary, reasonable, and require the expertise of a licensed occupational therapist.
Question 4: A 74-year-old stroke survivor has left-sided neglect. Which mealtime strategy is MOST appropriate?
- Place food on the right side of the tray only
- Arrange all food items in the center
- Place food on the left and cue the patient to scan left (Correct answer)
- Rotate the tray so the patient can access it from the right
Correct answer: Place food on the left and cue the patient to scan left
Placing food on the neglected (left) side and cueing the patient to scan promotes awareness of the neglected space and helps retrain attentional processes.
Question 5: Which standardized assessment BEST evaluates an older adult's ability to manage medication safely at home?
- Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
- Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills (KELS) (Correct answer)
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)
Correct answer: Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills (KELS)
The KELS directly assesses living skills including medication management, making it a valid and practical tool for evaluating home safety in older adults.
Question 6: An 80-year-old with severe arthritis struggles with buttoning shirts. What is the MOST direct intervention?
- Recommend magnetic closures or button hooks (Correct answer)
- Suggest the patient wear pullover shirts exclusively
- Refer to physical therapy for hand strengthening
- Teach joint protection techniques only
Correct answer: Recommend magnetic closures or button hooks
Button hooks and magnetic closures are adaptive devices that directly compensate for reduced fine motor control, enabling independent dressing with minimal joint stress.
Question 7: Which frame of reference is MOST appropriate when working with a 90-year-old in a long-term care facility focused on preserving quality of life?
- Biomechanical
- Rehabilitative
- Occupational adaptation
- Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Model of Human Occupation (MOHO)
MOHO addresses volition, habituation, and performance capacity within the environment, making it ideal for supporting meaningful participation and quality of life in long-term care settings.
Occupational Therapist Test Geriatric Care 3
Which environmental modification MOST reduces fall risk for an older adult with impaired depth perception?