How much do you know?
Geriatric Specailist
Am I old?
You are only as old as you feel
Is the quarter over yet?
100

•Quickest tool and best used to flag individuals for further follow up

•Identifies cognitive impairment

•Remembering words and drawing clock

Mini Cog

100

Patient loses job due to deficits from stroke, how would you therapeutically communicate with this patient? 

How does this make you feel?

100

If your patient is taking antidepressants or has suspected depression, what should you alway assess for?

Suicidal ideation 

100

Patient with dementia reports seeing her deceased parents, what should you do?

Ask her if she misses her mother, or tell me more about your mother?

100

If your patient is use to a routine and you are following this routine at the nursing home-- how can you ensure that your patient still gets meals and medications on time?

Call the kitchen and request meals around their schedule, provide meals/meds around their schedule. 

200

A decline in patient's cognition tends to have a direct correlation with 

Depression 

200

You are in the middle of an encounter with an agitated patient who has the potential to become violent, what should you do?

Reman calm, remove other patients from danger, keep the patient talking, give the patient space, do not turn your back, make sure you have an exit. 

200

Fixed beliefs that are false and cannot be corrected through logical discussion

Delusions 

200

What type of patient would benefit more from an adult daycare?

Dementia 

200

Normal age related changes that can affect a patient's progression in rehab:

muscle atrophy, decreased bone mass, sub q fat loss, decreased flexibility

300

How would you give a patient with cognitive impairment instructions?

Give simple instructions, one at a time. 

300

If a patient attempts to grab hold of you during an agitated encounter, how should you remove their hand?

Rotate away from the thumb of the patient's hand. 

300

You notice that your patient is giving away belongings and find medications hoarded in her bedside table, what do you suspect this patient planning?

To commit suicide by means of overdose. 

300

How can you make a patient feel more at home in assisted living facility?

Bring familiar items from home. 

300

You are trying to facilitate and improve bowel and bladder function, what is the best intervention:

Adherence to a schedule 

400

Your patient is hallucinating that snakes are crawling around the room, what would be the best action?

Remain calm, remove patient to a calm enivornment. 

400

A patient is acting out sexually, performing inappropriate actions at the nurses station. What is the most common reason for this action?

The patient is touch starved and desiring the need for human connection.

400

What are some signs and symptoms of depression?

decreased appetite, anhedonia, non-compliance etc.

400

Priority goal for rehab

promote highest level of functioning. 

400

What is the difference between palliative vs. hospice care?

Palliative care, we will still manage the patient's symptoms. Hospice we have shifted care to faciliate a peaceful dying process. 

500

You are trying to finish your initial assessment of a patient and notice that they are tense and uncooperative; what can you do to facilitate this experience?

Gain trust, try to get the patient to open up. Ask about them about their interests. 

500
Patient/family education regarding a patient that is expericing delirium?

remove stressors, behavior is temporary and once the underlying reason for the delirium is addressed, the behavior will stop. Maintain quite environment, limit # of vistors during episodes of delirium. Goal is to provide a stress free environment for the older adult

500

What is considered a restraint?

Physical restraints, chemical restraints. 

500
You notice that each evening one patient is taking food from the adult daycare service home-- what should you assess for?

Ask about need for additonal resources, patient may not be able to afford food. 

500

Signs and symptoms of impending death:

bowel bladder incontinence, altered LOC, decreased pulses, pallor, mottling