Geriatrics and Palliative Care

20 free practice questions shared by students. Answer them right here — no account needed.

Practise theseOne at a time, in a random order, with the explanation after each.

A 78-year-old woman becomes agitated and repeatedly pulls at her intravenous line on the second night after hip surgery. She alternates between asking where she…

Clinical rotations · common

An 82-year-old woman has fallen twice since her medicines were changed. She is slower when walking and has recently complained of constipation, blurred vision a…

Pre-internship · common

A 74-year-old man is referred after three falls over two months. He describes a brief feeling of faintness after rising from a chair, without spinning sensation…

Clinical rotations · common

A 79-year-old man has fallen three times in two months, usually when walking to the toilet at night. He has slowed reactions and feels unsteady for several hour…

Pre-internship · common

An 82-year-old woman becomes confused and unsteady over three days while being treated for depression and hypertension. She is euvolaemic, her serum sodium is 1…

Clinical rotations · common

A 74-year-old man is referred for six months of recurrent falls. He reports that his feet sometimes seem stuck to the floor when he starts walking, and he takes…

Clinical rotations · common

An 81-year-old man is admitted with a fractured neck of femur and becomes inattentive and disorganised over 24 hours. His level of alertness fluctuates, but he…

Clinical rotations · common

An 82-year-old woman is assessed after falling in her kitchen. She remembers reaching for a shelf but denies spinning, loss of consciousness, palpitations or li…

Clinical rotations · common

A 42-year-old man was treated with radioactive iodine for Graves disease three days ago. He now reports dry mouth and painful swelling in front of both ears, wo…

Clinical rotations · common

A 74-year-old man is brought to his general practitioner by his daughter, who is worried about his memory over the past three months. He has stopped attending h…

Clinical rotations · common

A 91-year-old man with moderate dementia is admitted after a fall and has developed new agitation overnight. He is afebrile, oxygen saturation is 96% on room ai…

Clinical rotations · common

A 77-year-old man with metastatic prostate cancer and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 18 mL/min/1.73 m² has been receiving regular oral morphine. Ove…

Pre-internship · middle twist

An 88-year-old woman has a dry, adherent black eschar covering the heel. The surrounding skin is warm but not erythematous, there is no drainage or fluctuance,…

Clinical rotations · common

A 79-year-old woman with limited mobility has a sacral ulcer measuring 5 cm in diameter. The ulcer extends through the dermis, with visible subcutaneous fat and…

Clinical rotations · common

A 76-year-old man with probable dementia with Lewy bodies has recurrent visual hallucinations that are frightening but not associated with aggression or immedia…

Clinical rotations · middle twist

An 87-year-old woman living independently develops confusion over 2 days after a chest infection. Her alertness varies during the day, and she cannot sustain at…

Clinical rotations · common

An 84-year-old inpatient becomes agitated and inattentive over 12 hours. He repeatedly tries to pass urine, reports lower abdominal discomfort and has a palpabl…

Clinical rotations · common

A 79-year-old man has taken diazepam 5 mg nightly for 10 years and wants to stop because of morning unsteadiness. He has no seizures, severe anxiety disorder or…

Pre-internship · common

An 82-year-old man has had two falls since his blood pressure treatment was intensified. His seated blood pressure is 138/72 mmHg, falling to 108/60 mmHg after…

Clinical rotations · common

A 78-year-old woman is assessed after three falls over 2 months. She has not sustained a major injury and denies a clear loss of consciousness. Her medicines in…

Clinical rotations · common