Author Question: A nurse working in an assisted care facility is preparing an educational program regarding ageism ... (Read 124 times)

bcretired · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A nurse working in an assisted care facility is preparing an educational program regarding ageism for the colleagues on the unit. Which statements reflect ageism?

Select all that apply.
A) If the client is competent to make decisions I should not go to other members of the family for care decisions.
B) The elderly are just lazy and that is why they need help with activities of daily living.
C) All elderly people are sickly.
D) Addressing an elderly client as 'Honey' or 'Sweetie' is disrespectful.
E) The elderly are less likely to recover from illness.

Question 2

The nurse is reviewing the discharge instructions for administration of home medications with an older adult client. In considering the normal changes experienced with aging, which activity should the nurse incorporate into the teaching plan?

A) Giving written materials to compensate for short-term memory losses
B) Considering holding sessions for longer periods than usual so the client can learn
C) Using tools that repeat the information until the information is understood
D) Providing instruction to relatives so that the client will not need to learn everything

kbennett34 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: B, C, E

Ageism is the term used to describe the deep and profound prejudice in American society against older adults. The beliefs that elderly people are sickly, less likely to recover from illness, and lazy are all examples of ageism. The nurse should always address the client by name and involve the client in care decisions if competent to do so.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: C

Normal age-related changes include a slowing of information processing, which results in the need for repetition of information. Short-term memory, or primary memory, remains relatively stable. Assuming the client cannot learn everything is a stereotypical belief about the aging process. Another age-related change includes the inability to maintain sustained attention. Therefore, long teaching sessions would not be appropriate.