Which statement, if made by an older adult patient, would be of ...

[tichca]

Which statement, if made by an older adult patient, would be of most concern to the nurse?
 
  a. I prefer to manage my life without much help from other people.
  b. I take three different medications for my heart and joint problems.
  c. I don't go on daily walks anymore since I had pneumonia 3 months ago.
  d. I set up my medications in a marked pillbox so I don't forget to take them.

Question 2

The home health nurse visits an older patient with mild forgetfulness. The nurse is most concerned if which information is obtained?
 
  a. The patient tells the nurse that a close friend recently died.
  b. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month.
  c. The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a son at night.
  d. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the patient's medications weekly.

[JCABRERA33]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Inactivity and immobility lead rapidly to loss of function in older adults. The nurse should develop a plan to prevent further deconditioning and restore function for the patient. Self-management is appropriate for independently living older adults. On average, an older adult takes seven different medications so the use of three medications is not unusual for this patient. The use of memory devices to assist with safe medication administration is recommended for older adults.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
A 10-pound weight loss may be an indication of elder neglect or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse. The use of a marked pillbox and planning by the family for 24-hour care are appropriate for this patient. It is not unusual that an 86-year-old would have friends who have died.