Care of Older Clients

The nurse is providing medication instructions to an older client who is taking digoxin daily. The nurse explains to the client that decreased lean body mass and decreased glomerular filtration rate, which are age-related body changes, could place the client at risk for which complication with medication therapy?

The nurse is caring for an older client in a long-term care facility. Which action contributes to encouraging autonomy in the client?

The home care nurse is visiting an older client whose spouse died 6 months ago. Which behaviors by the client indicates effective coping? Select all that apply.

1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. Looking at old snapshots of family
3. Participating in a senior citizens program
4. Visiting the spouse’s grave once a month
5. Decorating a wall with the spouse’s pictures and awards received

The nurse is providing instructions to the assistive personnel (AP) regarding care of an older client with hearing loss. What should the nurse tell the AP about older clients with hearing loss?

The nurse is providing an educational session to new employees, and the topic is abuse of the older client. The nurse helps the employees identify which client as most typically a victim of abuse?

The nurse is performing an assessment on an older client who is having difficulty sleeping at night. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further teaching regarding measures to improve sleep?

The visiting nurse observes that the older male client is confined by his daughter-in-law to his room. When the nurse suggests that he walk to the den and join the family, he says, “I’m in everyone’s way; my daughter-in-law needs me to stay here.” Which is the most important action for the nurse to take?

The nurse is performing an assessment on an older adult client. Which assessment data would indicate a potential complication associated with the skin?

The home health nurse is visiting a client for the first time. While assessing the client’s medication history, it is noted that there are 19 prescriptions and several over-the-counter medications that the client has been taking. Which intervention should the nurse take first?

The long-term care nurse is performing assessments on several of the residents. Which are normal age-related physiological changes the nurse should expect to note? Select all that apply.

1. Increased heart rate
2. Decline in visual acuity
3. Decreased respiratory rate
4. Decline in long-term memory
5. Increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections
6. Increased incidence of awakening after sleep onset