Communication with Older Adults Quiz

1. True or False. The need to be listened to and to be heard does not change with age or impairment.

2. True or False. Older adults are acutely aware of their limited time and given the opportunity are willing to talk about their lives.

3. _________________ is the basis for accurate assessment, care planning, and development of a therapeutic relationship between nurses and older adults.

4. True or False. Elders need no more time than younger people to give information and answer questions.

5. Why do older adults need more time to provide information or answer questions? ________________________________________________________________

6. True or False. Long silences are usually counterproductive to effective communication with older adults.

7. Why are open-ended questions difficult for some elders? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Closed-ended questions are primarily used to _____________________________

9. Why do some older adults experience frustration with close-ended questions? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. True or False. Communication is most productive when the nurse initially focuses on the older adult’s major concern, instead of the nurse’s priority.

11. Name one factor influencing receptive difficulties in verbal communication?

12. Name one condition contributing to disturbed perception in verbal communication.

13. Name one mechanical difficulty affecting articulation.

14. Define aphasia. ____________________________________________________

15. Which side of the brain is dominant for language in most people?

16. Define dysarthria. ___________________________________________________

17. True or False. As a rule, speak slowly, ask one question at a time, and wait for a response.

18. True or False. If you cannot quite understand an aphasic older adult pretend you can and listen more carefully.

19. An agreeable 92 year old female says, “I would wyke a gumma gooneum”. Your best response is:

A. “What’s a gumma gooneum?”B. “I don’t understand. Please try again.”C. “Do you want some gum or candy?”D. “You’d like a…(pause).

20. True or False. To preserve older adults’ dignity and prevent embarrassment, complete their sentences, rather than let them struggle with words.

21. True or False. The job of the interpreter is to simplify the original message so that culturally diverse clients can understand.

22. When an adult child is called on to interpret for a culturally diverse elder, the nurse should be aware that the child may ____________ the messages.

23. The most likely reason for a lay interpreter to edit or alter a message is because of _________________________________________________________________

24. Enlisting the services of a professional interpreter is especially important for ____________________ decisions.

25. Name at least on hint for working with an interpreter to communicate effectively. _________________________________________________________________

26. True or False. Wisdom of the old develops from cumulative information collected over the years.

27. True or False. Reminiscing is a sign of senility.

28. Name one benefit of telling life stories. __________________________________

29. Define Life Review. _________________________________________________

30. True or False. Always introduce yourself, explain your role, face the older person and establish eye contact.

31. True or False. If the older person has a hearing loss, speak loudly toward the person’s unaffected ear.

32. True or False. Avoid distracting hand gestures and facial exaggerations with hearing impaired elders.

33. In a conductive loss, such as cerumen impaction, vibrations from the WEBER test will lateralize to the _________________ear.

34. Explain why vibrations lateralize to the unaffected ear in a sensorineural hearing loss. ____________________________________________________________

35. True or False. Don’t use the words “see” or “look” when speaking to a visually impaired older person.

36. True or False. Using simple “yes” or “no” questions demeans the confused elder.

37. Explain how you would verify acceptability of hugs or touch in an older adult who is confused. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

38. True or False. Approach the aggressive older person from the side or back to avoid being hit.

39. True or False. Never argue with or correct mistakes of a confused or agitated older adult.

40. Which of these statements is gero-sensitive?

A. “Everything will be alright, sweetie.”B. “Be still while I put your diaper on.”C. “She can’t help herself, she suffers from senility.”D. “Mrs. Jones receives a nutritional supplement twice daily.”