An elderly patient complains bitterly and repetitively about ...

[bio_gurl]

An elderly patient complains bitterly and repetitively about numerous somatic concerns, but he has been examined thoroughly by several different health care providers, and physical examinations suggest that he is in good health.
 
  The nurse should suspect that the patient's somatic complaints most likely are: a. indications of a hidden physical illness.
  b. a maladaptive way of coping with stress.
  c. indications that he is feeling depressed.
  d. typical responses to the aches of growing older.

Question 2

A 75-year-old male client is brought to the clinic by his son. The son states, Ever since Mom died, Dad hasn't been the same. At first he just seemed sad, but now he seems to get mixed up about everything.
 
   The nurse is aware that based on the client's history, the source of confusion is most likely: a. Dementia
  b. Depression from the loss of his wife
  c. Hypoxia of the brain
  d. Delirium from medications

[deja]

Answer to Question 1

C
Elderly persons may have difficulty expressing emotions such as sadness or grief and may express them somatically instead. Somatic complaints may be stress related but are not a coping mechanism per se. No data is offered to support the presence of an undiagnosed medical illness or injury. Although aging processes can produce increasing aches and pains, this patient's presentation of bitter, repetitive somatic complaints and negative physical examinations suggests that a different phenomenon is at work.

Answer to Question 2

B
Depression in the elderly population is often a cause of confusion. The son's description of the behaviors of his father since his wife's death indicate that he became depressed, which has been followed by confusion. Dementia is a gradual onset of confusion, hypoxia is the result of brain injury, and delirium is sudden. Even though it appears that the confusion is caused by the depression, a thorough examination is warranted to confirm the cause.

[bio_gurl]

Thank you

[deja]

No problemo