21) During your assessment of an unconscious, unresponsive 80-year-old female patient, you
notice that she has dentures. Your assessment reveals she has an open airway, is breathing on her
own at a rate of 12 per minute, is slightly pale, and has a bounding radial pulse. In managing this
patient’s airway, what would be your most appropriate action?
A) Prepare to insert an oral airway.
B) Remove the dentures.
C) Perform a jaw thrust as needed.
D) Tilt the head to a sniffing position.
Objective: 34.3
22) An elderly patient you are transporting to the hospital for complaints of feeling faint and
having abdominal pain provides you with a list of medications he currently takes. Among the
medications listed is naproxen. The patient’s vital signs include a blood pressure of 148/92, pulse
rate of 120, respiratory rate of 28, and clear bilateral breath sounds. Which of the following
would be the most likely condition the patient is experiencing related to the abdominal pain?
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Constipation
C) Abdominal aortic aneurysm
D) Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
Objective: 34.3
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23) An elderly patient who is experiencing a myocardial infarction is more likely to complain of
which of the following symptoms than a younger patient would?
A) Shortness of breath without chest pain
B) Shortness of breath with chest pain
C) A rash caused by shingles
D) No chest pain or shortness of breath
Objective: 34.3
24) The elderly population is at least ________ times as likely to use the EMS system as patients
in other age groups.
A) 5
B) 0.5
C) 10
D) 2
Objective: 34.3
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25) Which of the following is the likely result of diminished thyroid function in the elderly?
A) Thin, dry, wrinkled skin
B) Decreased tolerance of heat and cold
C) Increased toxicity of medications
D) Difficulty chewing and swallowing
Objective: 34.3
26) Upon your arrival for a medical call at a private residence, you find an elderly male patient
complaining of difficulty breathing. Which of the following findings would provide you with the
most valuable information about potential problems this patient may be experiencing?
A) Temperature in the house
B) Patient’s positioning on the couch
C) Patient’s mental status
D) Patient’s vital signs
Objective: 34.3
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27) Which of the following lung conditions is the fourth leading cause of death among the
elderly?
A) Chronic bronchitis
B) Pneumothorax
C) Pneumonia
D) Tuberculosis
Objective: 34.3
28) Which of the following is a serious complication of a fall with chest injuries suffered by a
75-year-old male?
A) Pneumonia
B) Bruised ribs
C) Blood clots
D) Collapsed lungs
Objective: 34.3
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29) Which of the following fractures is most common among elderly women due to falls?
A) Distal femur
B) Pelvis
C) Mid-shaft femur
D) Proximal femur
Objective: 34.4
30) You walk up the stairs of a house to respond to a call of an elderly man. You notice that the
stairs do not have any handrails. After responding to the reason why he called 911, what
suggestion would you give to this patient to avoid falls in the future?
A) It is illegal to not have a handrail on the front steps and it must be fixed immediately.
B) He should install a handrail on the front steps to avoid any falls.
C) It is a good idea there are no handrails on the front steps as this negatively impacts his balance
as he walks up the stairs.
D) Nothing, there is no problem.
Objective: 34.4
31) Which of the following is NOT a form of elder abuse or neglect?
A) Social
B) Physical
C) Psychological
D) Financial
Objective: 34.5
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32) Which of the following may provide the EMT with an indication of physical neglect of an
elderly patient?
A) Misuse of a person’s personal belongings
B) Evidence of sexual assault
C) Injuries from a fall
D) Poor hygiene
Objective: 34.5
33) Which of the following statements is believed to be true regarding domestic elder abuse?
A) The elders are usually in good health.
B) The abusers are usually well-adjusted.
C) There is seldom a family history of elder abuse.
D) None of the above.
Objective: 34.5
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34) The main perpetrators of elder abuse are:
A) grandchildren
B) adult children
C) spouses
D) brothers and sisters
Objective: 34.5
35) The use of a made-up experience to replace lost memories with imaginary ones is called:
A) hysteria.
B) confusion.
C) denial.
D) confabulation.
Objective: 34.6
36) Which of the following groups is MOST likely to be successful in a suicide attempt?
A) Middle-aged men
B) Young women
C) Teenagers
D) Elderly men
Objective: 34.6
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37) While assessing the mental status of an elderly patient who has been retired for several years,
you notice he has difficulty answering your questions. He seems depressed. Based on this
information, you should:
A) suspect a life-threatening neurological event.
B) acknowledge the patient’s fears and try to put them in perspective.
C) consider his mental status as being decreased.
D) consider the need for advanced provider care.
Objective: 34.6
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