EMS Chapter 36 Geriatric Emergencies

Sedentary behavior while healing from a hip fracture would most likely predispose the older patient to:

pneumonia.

The purpose of the GEMS diamond is to:

help EMS personnel remember what is different about elderly patients.

Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of the family:

might cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making decisions.

When immobilizing a patient with a kyphotic spine to a long backboard, the EMT would most likely have to:

place blankets behind the patient's head.

A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune system should make you most suspicious for:

pneumonia

Which of the following statements regarding a decreased level of consciousness in the elderly patient is correct?

A decreased level of consciousness is not a normal part of the aging process.

Causes of delirium in the older patient include all of the following, except:

Alzheimer disease.

Which of the following is the most common mechanism of injury in older patients?

Falls

Which of the following statements regarding suicide in the older patient is correct?

Older patients tend to use more lethal means than younger patients.

A 69-year-old female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is semiconscious with a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg and a heart rate of 74 beats/min that is weak. Her daughter, who was uninjured in the crash, tells you that her mother has a history of hypertension and takes beta-blockers. Because this patient is probably in shock, what is the most likely explanation for the absence of tachycardia?

The effects of her antihypertensive medication

Osteoporosis is defined as:

a decrease in bone mass and density.

During the natural process of aging, the number of functional cilia in the respiratory system decreases, resulting in:

a decreased ability to cough.

A specific legal document that directs relatives and caregivers regarding the medical treatment that may be given to patients who cannot speak for themselves is called a(n):

advance directive.

A 73-year-old female experienced a syncopal episode while watching TV. She is now conscious but diaphoretic, tachycardic, and hypotensive. Your assessment reveals abdominal tenderness and a pulsating mass to the left of her umbilicus. You should suspect:

an aortic aneurysm.

Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should be suspected of having a brain injury, especially if they:

are taking blood-thinning medications.

When faced with a situation in which an older patient with a terminal illness is in cardiac arrest, but written documentation regarding the patient's wishes cannot be located, the EMT should:

attempt to resuscitate the patient.

When documenting a case of suspected elder abuse, it is most important for the EMT to:

avoid documenting any unsupported opinions.

Clouding of the lenses of the eyes is called:

cataracts

Syncope in the older patient is:

caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain.

The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function is known as:

dementia

When assessing a geriatric patient who has possibly experienced an acute ischemic stroke, it is most important to:

determine the onset of the patient's symptoms.

You are dispatched to a skilled nursing care facility for an 80-year-old female with abnormal behavior. The patient is clearly confused and asks you if you are her husband. You should:

determine the patient's baseline mental status.

Upon arriving at the residence of an elderly female who apparently fainted, you find the patient lying supine on her living room floor. She is not moving, and her eyes are closed. A neighbor tells you that she found the patient this way but did not move her. When you gently tap the patient, she does not respond. You should:

direct your partner to manually stabilize her head while you quickly visualize her chest for signs of breathing.

EMTs are dispatched to a residence for an 80-year-old woman who is ill. The patient's daughter states that her mother almost fainted after going to the bathroom and that her pulse was very slow. The patient's pulse rate is 80 beats/min and irregular, and she is conscious and alert. The EMTs should suspect that the patient:

experienced a vasovagal response.

To minimize distractions and confusion when assessing an older patient, you should:

have only one EMT speak to the patient at a time.

An elderly patient might understate or minimize the symptoms of his or her illness because:

he or she fears hospitalization.

In contrast to delirium, dementia:

is usually considered irreversible.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm:

is often the result of hypertension and atherosclerosis.

The stooped posture of some older people, which gives them a humpback appearance, is called:

kyphosis

Upon entering the residence of a geriatric patient with a medical or trauma complaint, the EMT should:

observe for conditions that might make the residence unsafe.

Fractures of the pelvis in older patients often occur as the result of a combination of:

osteoporosis and low-energy trauma.

The use of multiple prescription drugs by a single patient, causing the potential for negative effects such as overdosing or drug interaction, is called:

polypharmacy

In contrast to younger patients, older patients are more prone to a decrease in blood pressure (BP) upon standing because:

the body is less able to adapt the BP to rapid postural changes.

In contrast to a living will, a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order becomes valid when:

the patient develops cardiac arrest.

Many older victims of physical abuse might make false statements or lie about the origin of their injuries because:

they fear retribution from the abuser.