Gerontology 1017 Exam Prep

What are sibling relationships in the later years of life influenced by? a) Gender b) Education c) Marital status d) Age e) Ethnicity

a) Gender c) Marital status d) Age

As people live longer, they are also free of disability for longer periods before death. Which of the following terms refers to this phenomenon? a) Compression of morbidity b) Compression of disability c) Compression of health d) Health paradox e) Health conundrum

b) Compression of disability

Which of the following refers to a friend or neighbour who is almost like a relative? a) Imaginary kin b) Fictive kin c) Pretend kin d) Make-believe e) Fantasy kin

b) Fictive kin

Which of the following is NOT used as a measure of poverty? a) LICO b) GDP c) GNP d) LIM e) (b) and (c)

e) (b) and (c)

What are the two types of employer pension plans? a) Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) b) Defined benefit plans (DBs) c) Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) d) Defined contribution plans (DCs) e) (b) and (d)

e) (b) and (d)

Which of the following is NOT a possible outcome of social participation? a) A perceived higher quality of life b) Positive aging c) A sense of belonging to a community d) Better physical and mental health e) A decline in well-being

e) A decline in well-being

Which country or state outlaws euthanasia and assisted suicide? a) Belgium b) The Netherlands c) Switzerland d) Oregon e) Canada

e) Canada

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of private retirement plans? a) Employer/employee contributions b) Individual savings c) Investments d) Real estate e) Canada Pension Plan contributions

e) Canada Pension Plan contributions

Which of the following is NOT one of the six frames of mind that dying persons may hold toward death, as identified by Schroepfer (2006)? a) Neither ready for nor accepting death b) Not ready but accepting c) Ready and accepting d) Ready, accepting, and wishing death would occur e) Considering a slow death to say good bye to loved ones

e) Considering a slow death to say good bye to loved ones

Which of the following statements regarding political participation and age is false? a) There is a curvilinear relationship between age and civic activity, especially as they relate to voting behaviour. b) Political interest and priorities change with age. c) Participation in voting by older people is generally high. d) Much of the increased involvement among older people is accounted for by a significant increase in political interest and political activity among women. e) Decreased involvement in voting behavior in later life is more pronounced today than it was 20 or 30 years ago.

e) Decreased involvement in voting behavior in later life is more pronounced today than it was 20 or 30 years ago.

Which of the following is NOT a question surrounding the issue of social support? a) Who should provide care? b) What type of care and how much should be provided in the family home and by whom? c) Who should pay for home care? d) What interventions are needed to help both the care recipients and caregivers? e) Do men or women provide the best care?

e) Do men or women provide the best care?

What is the leading cause of death for adults over 65 living in the community? a) Motor-vehicle accidents b) Illnesses resulting from malnutrition c) Suicide d) Prescription drug interactions e) Falls

e) Falls

Which of the following is NOT an objective component of caregiver burden? a) A loss of sleep b) A change in employment status c) Financial difficulties d) Physical or mental-health problems e) Feelings of guilt

e) Feelings of guilt

Which of the following refers to the role of facilitating kinship interaction taken on by one or two members of the extended family (usually women)? a) Kin curator b) Kin guardian c) Kin caretaker d) Kin warden e) Kin keeper

e) Kin keeper

Which of the following was NOT a reason for the sharp rise in health-care spending in 1960- 1990, as established by Evans et al. (2001)? a) More physicians per capita b) More expensive cardiovascular pharmaceuticals c) Population aging d) Higher spending in hospitals e) More costly health care technologies

e) More costly health care technologies

Which of the following is NOT a changing demographic or social trend that results in people being less able to look after their aging relatives directly? a) Longer life expectancy b) Lower fertility rates c) Fewer childless marriages d) Higher divorce rates e) More single adults

e) More single adults

Which of the following is NOT a pattern followed by sibling relationships over the life course? a) Frequent interaction in the family home during childhood and adolescence, then little or no interaction after leaving home b) Frequent interaction in childhood continuing throughout the life course if siblings are "best friends" c) A slow drifting apart during adulthood after entering the labour force and getting married d) A renewal of contact and closeness in later life e) No discernible relationship in later life

e) No discernible relationship in later life

5. Which of the following is NOT a cause of medical iatrogenesis? a) Blood transfusions b) Over-prescribing drugs c) Unnecessary surgery d) Treatment from a health professional or a hospital stay e) Patient behaviour

e) Patient behaviour

Which of the following is NOT one of the patterns of religious participation? a) An increase from childhood to early adulthood, then stable across the life course b) Cyclical, random attendance, often related to stage in family life c) A decrease after middle age d) Regardless of the pattern earlier in life, an increase in the later years e) Regardless of the pattern earlier in life, a decrease in the later years

e) Regardless of the pattern earlier in life, a decrease in the later years

Which of the following statements is true? a) Productivity declines with age. b) Declines in physical or cognitive ability are rarely fully compensated for by experience in the labour force. c) Attitudes towards older workers are expected to get worse as the workforce continues to age. d) Older workers learn faster than younger workers. e) The stereotypes surrounding older workers are often a function of the age of the evaluator.

e) The stereotypes surrounding older workers are often a function of the age of the evaluator.

Which of the following is NOT one of the key reasons that an older adult would move away from their former residence? a) To better adapt to recent health limitations b) To be closer to family c) To live in a better neighbourhood d) To gain access to more social and leisure services e) To be alone

e) To be alone

Which of the following is NOT included in integrated care delivery systems for older adults? a) Case management for home care b) Home support c) Community services to enhance independence and quality of life d) Residential care

Any of the above

Which of the following refers to the person assigned by an older adult to make decisions regarding financial matters if the need arises? a) He or she has power of attorney. b) He or she has durable power of attorney. c) He or she is a guardian. d) He or she has financial power of attorney. e) He or she is an estate guardian.

a) He or she has power of attorney.

Which age group has the highest suicide rate? a) Males 85 and older b) Females 85 and older c) Males 20 and younger d) Females 20 and younger e) Females 45-55 years of age

a) Males 85 and older

Which of the following statements regarding most elderly adults is true? a) Most elderly adults engage in varying degrees of interaction with their social networks. b) Adults with lower social status tend to have larger, more widespread networks. c) Elderly men tend to be involved in kinship networks. d) Most elderly adults have little to no contact with their social networks. e) Most elderly adults have no need of companionship

a) Most elderly adults engage in varying degrees of interaction with their social networks.

Which of the following terms refers to the use of commonly held principles and ethical rules that guide what we "ought" to do when making decisions about or for others? a) Principlism b) Principle c) Ageism d) Sexism e) Prism

a) Principlism

Which of the following does NOT contribute to the level of stress experienced by an adult child caring for aging parents? a) The caregiver's speed of learning b) The type and degree of the older person's impairment c) The availability of financial support d) The older person's personality and demands e) The caregiver's personality

a) The caregiver's speed of learning

What is true of baby boomers compared to people who were their age about 20 years ago? a) They have a significantly lower rate of smoking. b) They have a significantly lower rate of healthy exercise. c) They have a lower rate of obesity. d) They have a higher rate of heavy drinking. e) They have a lower rate of chronic illness.

a) They have a significantly lower rate of smoking. b) They have a significantly lower rate of healthy exercise.

Which of the following is the most common way in which older people manage on a lower income? a) They spend less b) They find employment c) They re-marry d) They sell their home e) They use public transportation

a) They spend less

Which of the following is NOT a reason for divorce among older adults? a) To increase the level of excitement in their lives b) To reduce stress c) To reduce boredom d) To improve their physical and mental health e) A divergence in interests and values from that of their partner

a) To increase the level of excitement in their lives

Which of the following statements is false? a) Very few older people report living in isolation or report being lonely. b) More older women than older men report being involved in social activities. c) Most older people want to be active and don't care about the meaning or form of activity. d) Older adults who are more socially involved have lower morbidity and mortality rates. e) Most older adults are not alienated.

a) Very few older people report living in isolation or report being lonely.

Which direction reflects the most permanent interprovincial migration among the older population in Canada? a) Westward b) Eastward c) Northward d) Southward e) None of the above

a) Westward

Which of the following is NOT a societal constraint imposed on older adults regarding participation in social activities? a) When information about leisure opportunities is widely disseminated b) When local or regional norms and cultural values discourage the involvement of older adults in specific activities c) When there are no programs or facilities, such as senior citizen centres, especially in rural and inner-city areas d) When public transportation is inaccessible or unavailable e) When government cutbacks limit age-friendly initiatives

a) When information about leisure opportunities is widely disseminated

Which of the following groups of people is more likely to report feelings of loneliness? a) Women b) Men c) Those engaged with other family members d) Those in good physical or mental health e) Those living with family

a) Women

Which of the following is NOT a motivation for international "assistance" migration? a) The onset of a moderate disability b) Aging itself c) Increasing poverty d) Civil unrest e) Lack of social or health services

b) Aging itself

Which of the following statements is false? a) Middle-aged immigrants who have arrived within the previous 10 years have better functional and self-rated health than their Canadian-born counterparts. b) Immigrants coming into Canada generally have poorer health than Canadians, but they become healthier over time. c) The healthy-immigrant effect is strongest among recent immigrants. d) The longer immigrants live in Canada, the more their self-reported health resembles that of the rest of the population. e) Older recent immigrants have poorer health than longer-term immigrants and Canadianborn age peers.

b) Immigrants coming into Canada generally have poorer health than Canadians, but they become healthier over time.

Which of the following is NOT a common reason for avoiding community services? a) A desire to remain independent or dependent on a spouse, child, or friend b) Knowledge about the availability of formal services c) A denial that services are needed d) A fear of having strangers in the home e) Subtle discrimination against members of ethnic groups who speak and read only their own language

b) Knowledge about the availability of formal services

According to Lawton's (1980) ecological model of aging, what will someone prematurely confined to a nursing home with little contact experience? a) High competence and strong environmental press b) Low competence and strong environmental press c) High competence and weak environmental press d) Low competence and weak environmental press e) No environmental press

b) Low competence and strong environmental press

Which of the following statements regarding drug use among older adults is false? a) The number and frequency of medications increase with age. b) Most drugs cure an underlying condition. c) Many older adults take more than one drug per day. d) In general, older women take more drugs than older men. e) Unsuitable medications can alter the way older people think, move, or express themselves.

b) Most drugs cure an underlying condition.

Which of the following refers to the type of housing for older adults that includes shelter and a variety of services that focus on the stimulation and activation of the residents by qualified staff? a) Independent housing b) Supportive housing c) Dependent housing d) Long-term care e) Institutionalized living

b) Supportive housing

Which of the following statements is false? a) Labour force participation rates for older men are decreasing. b) The most dramatic shrinkage in Canada's labour force has already happened. c) Mandatory retirement can be expensive for a society that is aging. d) Unstable labour force involvement is becoming more common among men. e) Canada's Human Rights Act does not view retirement at a specific age as discriminatory.

b) The most dramatic shrinkage in Canada's labour force has already happened.

What is true of most older adults? a) They are isolated. b) They are interacting socially. c) They are disengaged. d) They are alienated. e) They are abandoned.

b) They are interacting socially.

Which of the following groups is NOT likely to work past 65 years of age? a) Men b) Those with less education c) Self-employed persons d) Those in farming e) Those in specific occupations (e.g., judges, doctors, and religious leaders)

b) Those with less education

Which of the following is NOT a reason that people volunteer their time? a) To meet people, expand their network, and avoid social isolation and loneliness b) To demonstrate dependence c) To assist other generations d) To share their knowledge, experience, wisdom, and skills e) To advance a personal interest or cause

b) To demonstrate dependence

Which of the following statements is false? a) Most older adults are not abandoned. b) With age, older people tend to distance themselves from family and confidants. c) For older adults, the "convoy of support" does not guarantee that interaction will occur. d) Unmarried older men have fewer sources of social support than married older men. e) Women have large and diverse networks.

b) With age, older people tend to distance themselves from family and confidants.

Which of the following is NOT an environment assessed in Lawton's (1980) environmental press concept? a) Personal environment b) Work environment c) Supra-personal environment d) Social environment e) Physical environment

b) Work environment

Which of the following constraints does NOT reduce social involvement or leisure pursuits? a) Declining health and energy b) Loss of interest in specific activities c) Being married d) A decline in financial resources e) An inability to drive or to use public transportation

c) Being married

Which of the following statements concerning grandparent-grandchild relationships is false? a) Older people in the future will have fewer biological grandchildren than they do now. b) Face-to-face grandparent-grandchild interactions have decreased. c) By 30 years of age, most people still have all four living biological grandparents. d) In skip-generation households, about half involve a single grandparent providing care for at least one grandchild. e) Becoming a grandparent after retirement is becoming more common.

c) By 30 years of age, most people still have all four living biological grandparents.

Which of the following statements is true? a) Retirement leads to tension and conflict in marriages. b) Younger people are generally more satisfied with their marriages. c) High levels of marital satisfaction are generally reported more by elderly men than elderly women. d) Marital satisfaction is negatively associated with health and well-being. e) Having fewer children is associated with greater marital satisfaction later in life.

c) High levels of marital satisfaction are generally reported more by elderly men than elderly women.

Which of the following statements regarding the anti-aging movement is true? a) Anti-aging methods are a recent development in human history. b) The commercial market for anti-aging products is small and focused on younger age groups. c) Many anti-aging products and treatments are available in the offices of medical professionals. d) The anti-aging movement does not promote ageism. e) There are few moral/ethical questions surrounding the anti-aging movement.

c) Many anti-aging products and treatments are available in the offices of medical professionals.

Which group of older people are NOT main users of formal services? a) Frail couples living in their home b) Those who live alone c) Men d) Those over 75 years of age with poor self-reported health e) Those who have used home care previously

c) Men

Which of the following group is NOT typical of home-care clients? a) Women over the age of 85 b) Older adults with chronic conditions c) Older adults with low levels of assessed complex needs d) Older adults who experience pain and/or depression e) Older adults who are at risk of falls

c) Older adults with low levels of assessed complex needs

Which of the following is NOT an example of employer-based support services for an aging population? a) Parental leave policies b) Employee assistance programs c) Overtime pay d) Teleworking e) Flextime

c) Overtime pay

Which of the following refers to the withdrawal of treatment while providing medication to reduce pain? a) Assisted suicide b) Active euthanasia c) Passive euthanasia d) Assisted euthanasia e) Active suicide

c) Passive euthanasia

Which of the following represent the most burdensome cases of caregiving? a) Family members b) Neighbours c) Persons with dementia d) Persons with mobility limitations e) Persons experiencing cognitive decline

c) Persons with dementia

Which of the following statements is true? a) The "empty nest" stage is more common outside North America. b) For most parents, the transition to the "empty nest" stage is a negative experience. c) Sons tend to leave home later than daughters. d) A decreasing number of children continue to live in the family home well into their 30s. e) Marital satisfaction always increases after the "empty nest" stage.

c) Sons tend to leave home later than daughters.

Which of the following statements regarding the hospice movement is false? a) It was founded in 1967 in London, England. b) The first hospice in Canada was established in 1975 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. c) The hospice movement refers purely to the facility rather than any particular philosophy. d) Half of all countries have no formal end-of-life care services. e) Where care services do exist, only 15 per cent are integrated into the health-care system.

c) The hospice movement refers purely to the facility rather than any particular philosophy.

Which of the following statements regarding major changes in family and kinship structures is false? a) There has been a shift from an "age-condensed" structure to an "age-gapped" structure in some extended families. b) There has been an emergence of truncated families in which a specific family lineage eventually disappears when the youngest generation is childless by choice or by chance. c) The kinship system has become shorter, resulting in less complex family relationships. d) The number of reconstituted or blended families as a result of remarriage following divorce or widowhood has increased. e) The propensity for older adults to cohabit as partners has increased.

c) The kinship system has become shorter, resulting in less complex family relationships.

What is the primary reason for the recent stabilization of total drug expenditures? a) Increases in the population of older people b) Increased dosages c) The prescription of less expensive drugs d) The costs of pharmaceutical ingredients e) Increased rates of heart disease

c) The prescription of less expensive drugs

Which of the following is true with regards to women's working lives compared to men's? a) They earn more. b) They save more. c) They invest less. d) They own more property. e) They leave the labour force more frequently.

c) They invest less.

Which group of older adults is NOT likely to have fictive kin as a core part of their social network? a) Those who are unmarried b) Those who are widowed c) Those who are married d) Those who are in homosexual partnerships e) Those who are childless

c) Those who are married

In which combination of cities do one-third of all older Canadian adults (aged 65+) reside? a) Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa b) Victoria, Toronto, and Montreal c) Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal d) Victoria, London, and Ottawa e) Calgary, Ottawa, and Halifax

c) Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal

When does comorbidity occur? a) When two people suffer from the same illness b) When two people die from the same illness c) When one person is suffering from more than one condition at the same time in later life d) When a person develops the same illness as their spouse e) When one person develops the same illness twice

c) When one person is suffering from more than one condition at the same time in later life

Which of the following statements is false? a) More women than men aged 65 and older and living in the community, receive care. b) Family caregivers usually include daughters or daughter-in-laws. c) People who live in rural areas generally receive more help from community members. d) Aboriginal people prefer government support services over family assistance. e) Family assistance is greater when the older person does not speak English or French.

d) Aboriginal people prefer government support services over family assistance.

Which of the following statements is false? a) The definition of a fall can vary among older persons. b) Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among those aged 65 and older. c) The majority of injuries resulting in hospitalization are caused by falls. d) About three-quarters of older people have a fall each year. e) Women are more likely to fall than men.

d) About three-quarters of older people have a fall each year.

Which of the following does not directly influence family relationships across the life course? a) Gender b) Class c) Race d) Age e) Ethnicity

d) Age

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the reappraisal of living arrangements and lifestyle? a) Retiring b) Becoming widowed c) Experiencing a significant change in health status d) Aging e) Changes in one's financial situation

d) Aging

Concerning dementia, which of the following statements is false? a) Dementia is characterized by severe losses in cognitive, emotional, or social abilities. b) The prevalence of dementia is greater among women than among men. c) The prevalence of dementia increases with age. d) Alzheimer's disease is reversible with the appropriate treatment. e) Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and can only be accurately diagnosed after death.

d) Alzheimer's disease is reversible with the appropriate treatment.

What is the most common illness among older adults living in the community? a) Hypertension b) Diabetes c) Heart disease d) Arthiritis e) Bronchitis/emphysema

d) Arthiritis

Which of the following factors increases the likelihood of poverty in later life? a) High levels of education b) Good health c) Living as a couple d) Being female e) Having a history of full-time employment

d) Being female

Which of the following statements regarding issues of concern to older volunteers is false? a) Clients are becoming more difficult to serve. b) Clients are becoming more demanding. c) Volunteers are increasingly concerned about their safety. d) Clients are becoming more independent e) There is high turnover and volunteers are in short supply

d) Clients are becoming more independent

What does the amount of accumulated wealth and income in later life NOT depend on? a) Education b) Work history c) Marital history d) Culture e) Inheritance

d) Culture

Which of the following has caused an improvement in the economic situation of older women? a) Lower education levels b) Shorter periods in full-time jobs c) More wage discrimination d) Increased pension eligibility e) Lower participation in better-paid professional positions

d) Increased pension eligibility

What does "intimacy at a distance" refer to? a) Living in a separate part of the house b) Living far away from family members yet often talking to those family members on the phone c) Having separate social relationships but eating meals together d) Living independently yet being close enough to visit e) Visiting at least once a week

d) Living independently yet being close enough to visit

Which of the following is not a social determinant of health? a) Socio-economic status b) Living and working conditions c) Social support from family and friends d) Moral behaviour e) Physical environment

d) Moral behaviour

Which of the following statements is true? a) With age, people read more books and newspapers. b) Religious beliefs are negatively associated with age. c) Civic participation does not count as active and productive aging. d) Older adults account for almost 20 per cent of all formal volunteer hours. e) Older cohorts have higher literacy rates than younger age groups.

d) Older adults account for almost 20 per cent of all formal volunteer hours.

Which of the following statements is true? a) An income security system helps eliminate income inequality later in life. b) The current economic and social security systems are likely to become bankrupt in the future. c) CPP/QPP beneficiaries can expect to receive approximately 50 per cent of their average pre-retirement wage. d) The income security system is more generous to those at or near the bottom of the socio-economic scale. e) Most pension systems are designed to replace close to 100 per cent of an individual's pre-retirement income.

d) The income security system is more generous to those at or near the bottom of the socio-economic scale.

Which of the following statements is false? a) More retirees have a great degree of economic security because of enhanced public retirement benefits. b) There are more frequent and rapid shifts in the economy, leading to job losses, company mergers, downsizing, the outsourcing of work to other countries where labour is cheap, and fluctuations in retirement and pension plan investments. c) There is increased individualization of the work life: individuals, not just employers, make decisions concerning entry into and exit from the workforce based on personal interests, ambitions, and abilities to seek a "work-life balance." d) There is decreased education and labour-force participation among women. e) Gender relations are changing at home and at work: men are more involved in family responsibilities because of two-career couples; women are more involved in management and leadership positions at work.

d) There is decreased education and labour-force participation among women.

Which of the following statements regarding women in the labour force is false? a) They enter and leave the labour force more frequently than men. b) They seldom seek or receive an opportunity to advance to high-status positions. c) They are more likely to work part-time and retire before they are 65. d) They often occupy high-prestige positions. e) They are more likely to convert pension benefits earned early in life into cash when they change jobs.

d) They often occupy high-prestige positions.

Which of the following groups has the smallest and least intimate networks and, in later life, fewer sources of informal support? a) Married women b) Unmarried women c) Married men d) Unmarried men e) Singles

d) Unmarried men

Which of the following statements is false? a) Unstable labour force involvement is becoming more common among men, while continuous, stable involvement is more likely among women. b) The Canadian labour force is shrinking in size. c) There is a trend towards earlier retirement by older workers. d) Women are more likely than men to work beyond 65 years of age. e) People with more education are more likely to work beyond 65 years of age.

d) Women are more likely than men to work beyond 65 years of age.