Gerontology and Elder Care Flashcards

What is the primary focus of the Older Americans Act (OAA), originally passed in 1965?

Answer: Establishing a nationwide network of community-based social services for older adults

The Older Americans Act established the national aging services network, funding programs such as senior centers, home-delivered meals, caregiver support, and transportation for older adults.

Which cognitive assessment instrument is most widely used in clinical settings to screen for dementia and cognitive impairment in older adults?

Answer: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most widely used standardized screening tool for cognitive impairment, assessing orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills in approximately 10 minutes.

What is 'respite care' in the context of elder care and caregiving?

Answer: Temporary relief care provided so primary caregivers can rest

Respite care provides temporary relief to primary caregivers by having another person or organization provide care, helping prevent caregiver burnout and sustaining home-based care.

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. What is the most common serious injury resulting from falls in this population?

Answer: Hip fracture

Hip fractures are the most serious and common fall-related injury in older adults, often leading to significant disability, loss of independence, prolonged hospitalization, and increased mortality.

Which aging theory, proposed by Cumming and Henry in 1961, suggests that older adults naturally and mutually withdraw from social roles and relationships?

Answer: Disengagement theory

Disengagement theory, the first formal sociological theory of aging, proposes that aging involves a natural, mutual withdrawal between older adults and society as individuals prepare for death.

Which of the following best distinguishes palliative care from hospice care for older adults?

Answer: Palliative care can begin at any illness stage alongside curative treatment; hospice focuses on comfort when cure is no longer pursued

Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment at any illness stage, while hospice care is specifically for those with a terminal prognosis (typically 6 months or less) who have chosen comfort over curative treatment.

What is the 'Hayflick limit' in the biology of aging?

Answer: The approximately 50 times normal human cells can divide before undergoing senescence

The Hayflick limit, discovered by Leonard Hayflick in the 1960s, refers to the approximately 50 times that normal human somatic cells can divide before undergoing senescence, providing a cellular basis for biological aging.