Question

The nurse is planning health promotion teaching for a group of healthy older adults in a residential community. Which statement accurately describes expected hematologic effects of aging?A.) "Platelet production increases with age and leads to easy bruising."B.) "Anemia is common with aging because iron absorption is impaired."C.) "Older adults with infections may have only a mild white blood cell count elevation."D.) "Older adults often have poor immune function with a decreased number of lymphocytes"

Answer 1

Answer: C.) "Older adults with infections may have only a mild white blood cell count elevation.

Explanation:

Platelet count remains unaffected by the aging process. But, easy bruising can occur due to vascular integrity.  

Iron absorption remains unaffected in the old patient, but appropriate nutritional intake of iron may be decreased as the diet get compromised and becomes low with old age due to ineffective digestive machinery.

The total white blood cell count is generally not affected by aging. But, a decrease in humoral antibody response and decrease in T-cell function may occur. Thus the adults may show a slight elevation in the white blood cell count.