Geriatric OT Flashcards
7 cards from real OTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Geriatric OT flashcards as text
A 72-year-old client with congestive heart failure (CHF) becomes short of breath while dressing. The OTA should FIRST:
Answer: Have the client rest and monitor vital signs
Shortness of breath during activity in CHF requires stopping the task and monitoring vital signs before deciding on further action.
Which approach BEST supports occupational engagement for an older adult newly admitted to a long-term care facility?
Answer: Conducting an occupational profile interview to identify meaningful roles and interests
An occupational profile identifies the client's meaningful roles, interests, and routines, which guides individualized and occupation-centered intervention.
A client with moderate Alzheimer's disease becomes agitated during bathing. Which sensory strategy is MOST likely to reduce agitation?
Answer: Playing familiar, calming music during the bathing routine
Familiar, calming music can reduce agitation during ADL care by providing positive sensory input and evoking procedural memory in dementia.
What is the PRIMARY role of the OTA in the discharge planning process for a geriatric inpatient?
Answer: Contribute functional performance observations to the team's discharge planning discussion
The OTA contributes functional observations and performance data to inform the interdisciplinary team's discharge planning, under OT supervision.
Which condition MOST commonly causes peripheral neuropathy in the geriatric population, affecting sensory awareness of the feet?
Answer: Diabetes mellitus
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common cause of reduced sensation in the feet among older adults, increasing fall and injury risk.
An OTA is grading a fine motor dressing task for a client with decreased hand coordination. The BEST way to increase task difficulty progressively is to:
Answer: Move from Velcro fasteners to buttons and then to small snaps
Grading from Velcro (easiest) to buttons to small snaps progressively challenges fine motor coordination as the client improves.
A client recovering from a hip replacement asks the OTA how to put on shoes while following posterior hip precautions. The OTA should instruct the client to:
Answer: Use a long-handled shoehorn and elastic laces while keeping the hip above 90°
A long-handled shoehorn and elastic laces allow shoe donning without hip flexion beyond 90°, adduction, or internal rotation, maintaining posterior hip precautions.