Which of the following is a preventable condition in sedentary hospitalized older adults?
A. Falls
B. Decubitus ulcer
C. Delirium
D. All of the above
ANS: A
Many of the geriatric syndromes are adverse events that occur as a result of immobility and hospitalization or inappropriate prescribing of medications; such syndromes require systems interventions to improve or change outcomes. Among these syndromes are four—falls, delirium, pressure ulcers, and underfeeding—that have been labeled as "medical errors" because they are largely preventable in hospitalized elders (Tsilimingras, Rosen, & Berlowitz 2003). It is important that nurse practitioners have a basic understanding of the risk factors, causes, and clinical presentations of geriatric syndromes and routinely assess for factors that may be amenable to intervention beyond the medical issues. Prevention is particularly important in managing geriatric syndromes both in the hospitalized and in the community-residing elder.
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