CSS CSS Elder Care Fundamentals & Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which assessment tool is most commonly used to evaluate a senior's functional independence in daily activities?
- Barthel Index (Correct answer)
- Mini-Mental State Exam
- Geriatric Depression Scale
- CAGE Questionnaire
Correct answer: Barthel Index
The Barthel Index measures a senior's ability to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and mobility.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA)?
- Billing optimization
- Identifying medical, functional, and psychosocial needs (Correct answer)
- Determining insurance eligibility
- Scheduling surgical interventions
Correct answer: Identifying medical, functional, and psychosocial needs
A CGA evaluates a senior's medical conditions, functional status, mental health, and social support to create a holistic care plan.
Question 3: Which federal law establishes residents' rights in nursing facilities, including the right to refuse treatment?
- HIPAA
- OBRA 1987 (Correct answer)
- ADA
- EMTALA
Correct answer: OBRA 1987
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) established comprehensive residents' rights and quality standards for nursing facilities.
Question 4: What does the term 'aging in place' refer to in senior care?
- Moving to a nursing home at a set age
- Remaining in one's own home as long as safely possible (Correct answer)
- Staying in the same assisted living room
- Aging without medical intervention
Correct answer: Remaining in one's own home as long as safely possible
Aging in place means enabling seniors to live safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible with appropriate support.
Question 5: Which ADL (Activity of Daily Living) is typically the LAST to be lost in a senior with progressive functional decline?
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Feeding (Correct answer)
- Continence
Correct answer: Feeding
Feeding is generally the last ADL lost as functional decline tends to progress from complex to basic tasks, with self-feeding being highly preserved.
Question 6: What is 'polypharmacy' and why is it a key concern in elder care?
- Use of herbal supplements, which are generally safe
- Use of five or more medications, increasing adverse event risk (Correct answer)
- Prescribing medications in a pharmacy chain
- Simultaneous use of two brand-name drugs
Correct answer: Use of five or more medications, increasing adverse event risk
Polypharmacy, typically defined as five or more concurrent medications, significantly increases the risk of adverse drug interactions, falls, and hospitalizations in older adults.
CSS CSS Elder Care Fundamentals & Assessment 1
Which assessment tool is most commonly used to evaluate a senior's functional independence in daily activities?