An 80-year-old patient with visual and hearing deficits is ...

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An 80-year-old patient with visual and hearing deficits is admitted for hip replacement surgery
 
  The patient has begun to show mild confusion and has become resistant to care and treatment. To minimize this problem, the nurse initially edits the patient's care plan to include:
  a. frequent reorientation to people in the pa-tient's environment.
  b. putting on the patient's glasses and hear-ing aid as a part of activities of daily living (ADLs).
  c. assigning the same staff to provide patient care whenever possible.
  d. minimizing the number of off-unit trips for the patient.

Question 2

An older adult patient has been prescribed a specialized enteral formula after an extensive surgical procedure. The nurse anticipates and addresses a concern of many patients in this age cohort when assuring the patient that
 
  a. her family can easily manage the formula after she is discharged.
  b. Medicare will cover the expense of the treatment.
  c. the treatment will be discontinued as soon as she is able to eat sufficiently.
  d. this is the most effective form of nutrition for her at this time.

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Answer to Question 1

B
Older adults have a decreased ability to negotiate within and adapt to an unfamiliar environment, which can be initially minimized by the use of hearing aids and eyeglasses, for example. The other actions may be appropriate, but until the sensory deficit is corrected, the patient will most likely remain confused.

Answer to Question 2

B
Specialized enteral formulas are considerably more expensive than standard formulas and should be used only when clearly indicated. The cost of such a treatment would be of great concern to this cohort. The special feeding will be discontinued as soon as possible, this is the best way to give this patient nutrition at this time, and the family can manage the feedings, but the bigger concern is cost.