Author Question: Which of the following statements is true about the mental health of older adults? a. Nurses ... (Read 83 times)

jilianpiloj · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

Which of the following statements is true about the mental health of older adults?

a. Nurses should discourage denial and re-gression so older adults can directly face underlying causes of anxiety.
b. Anxiety is easily distinguished from de-pression, dementia, and the effects of dis-ease or medication.
c. Compulsive rituals surrounding toileting and sleep are signs of a serious mental disorder.
d. The nurse avoids antianxiety medications without an assessment for factors asso-ciated with anxiety.

Question 2

An older male adult is being abused by his daughter, a single working mother of four children, with whom he lives. The nurse investigates to learn the abuse is due to situational stress.

Which should the nurse implement to address the short-term crisis? a. Remove him from his daughter's home immediately.
b. Encourage the daughter to work with social services.
c. Arrange respite care or day care for the patient.
d. Place your patient in a long-term care facility.

durant1234 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
Without an adequate assessment, medications can exacerbate a problem. Denial and regression may be necessary to enable an older person to cope with underlying stressors. Depression, de-mentia, disease, and medications can produce anxious behavior, and the resultant anxiety can be manifested in a similar manner, regardless of the cause. Compulsive rituals can be a way of cop-ing with challenges leading to anxiety.

Answer to Question 2

C

Feedback
A Incorrect. Unlike children, abused elders cannot be removed from situations without their permission. Helping the daughter deal with the situational stress would be more effective.
B Incorrect. This solution can help the daughter learn more effective and harmless ways of solving problems, but it does not address the short-term crisis.
C Correct. By relieving the daughter of some responsibilities, respite care is likely to be beneficial for the older adult and his daughter because it can help to reduce tension.
D Incorrect. This measure may eventually be necessary, but it would be better to improve the living situation within the patient's family.