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STUDY GUIDE for C475 Care of Older Adult Objective Assessment

Exam questions are taken from the Learning Objectives under the 9 Competencies:

#1 Competency 742.1.1: Compassionate and Respectful Care of Older Adults

The graduate integrates principles of compassion and respect for patients and their families into

the planning and delivery of care to a diverse population of older adults and into advocacy for

vulnerable older adults.

This topic addresses the following learning objectives:

• Recognize the impact of attitudes, values, and expectations about aging.

• Describe how the RN’s personal beliefs and values may impact the care of older adults.

• Articulate the concept of individualized care as the standard of practice with older

adults, considering the right care, at the right time, in the right place and by the

right provider of care.

➢ Define Baby Boomers

▪ Those born between 1946-1964; that are now reaching retirement age

➢ What are the five racial groups listed in your text?

▪ European Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans,

Asian Americans, and Native Americans

➢ How would you perform discharge teaching to an Hispanic patient

▪ Whittemore (2007) conducted a systematic review of the literature to

identify culturally competent interventions for Hispanic adults with type

2 diabetes. In reviewing 11 studies, Whittemore found that providing

educational sessions and written materials, in both English and Spanish;

employing bilingual Hispanic staff; including family members in an

informal atmosphere in health care encounters; incorporating cultural

traditions in interventions; developing culturally relevant program

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literature; and providing fact sheets about risk and potential poor

outcomes of chronic conditions such as diabetes will increase the

effectiveness of interventions.

• Apply effective and respectful communication strategies in the care of older adults

and their families.

➢ List some of the changes of aging that could affect therapeutic communication

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▪ Physical: like aphasia (difficulty finding words, writing,

expression), dysarthria (difficult speaking)

▪ Psychological: Dementia, Mental disease, schizophrenia, depression,

embarrassment (hearing loss, vision loss), English as a second language

(cannot understand or relay message) , fear of being labeled as a

complainer

▪ Eyes: Senile miosis, difficulty adjusting to bright lights, presbyopia

(accomodating near to far), decrease in acuity or depth perception, dry

eyes

▪ Ears: conduction problems, tumors, infections, foreign objects, noise

pollution (hx playing in band), otoxic substances, freq, presbycuspis most

common **

➢ Note the ways to communicate or assist a patient with disabilities such as

hearing deficits, vision impairments, or aphasia and dysarthria. How should you

address the older adult during therapeutic communication?

▪ Disabilities in general: Slow down, allow time for reaction, set up

environment, gather supplies ahead of time, tell family members to

answer only when directed, introduce your name and role, eliminate

background noise (turn off tv if too loud), determine how the pt likes to

be addressed (never use honey or dear), extend your hand and shake

and smile, maintain eye contact, do not talk down, avoid crossing arms,

do not minimize their concerns

▪ Hearing loss: Do not use a high pitch voice or shout, stand in front of

them, Sit at the side they hear best, Do not cover your face, Eliminate

background noise

▪ Visual loss: Do not startle, position yourself, provide ample lighting, be

prepared if the patient states they see objects that you do not.

▪ Language impairment: use short, uncomplicated sentences, maintain

eye contact, provide an environment low in distractions, observe facial

cues, paper and pen, do not correct what they say.

➢ Know the abbreviations or acronyms, such as AAC. Know which hearing aids

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cover the widest range of hearing loss. See the box on Types of Hearing Aids in

chapter 5. Both hearing aids and AAC will be mentioned again in Chapter 16.

-AAC ‘augmented and alternative communication’, is an integrated group

of components, including symbols, aids, strategies and techniques used by

individuals to enhance communication.

-BTE (behind the ear) is the most common and covers the widest range of

hearing loss assistive device.

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