Answer to Question 1
4. I will sit up for several minutes to gain my balance before going from lying down to standing up..
Rationale:
Carbidopa-levodopa is a medication that replaces the dopamine that is lacking in clients with Parkinson's disease. This medication is likely to cause orthostatic hypotension, so the client must take care when changing positions from lying to standing. The medication should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals to promote absorption of the medication. There is no medication known to cure Parkinson's disease. Care must be taken if the client is also taking medications to lower the blood pressure because a cumulative effect may occur leading to hypotension and increased risk for falling.
Answer to Question 2
3. Consult with speech therapy for exercises to aid with speech and language
Rationale:
The spouse is frustrated with the client's impaired verbal communication. The best intervention would be to consult with speech therapy for exercises to aid with speech and language. The spouse does not need a hearing aid. The spouse and client do not need to learn sign language in order to communicate. Reminding the spouse that silence is not a bad thing is an inappropriate intervention.
Client on IV patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).
Microscopic Features of Alzheimer’s Disease
Sydney Parkinson, Portrait of a Maori.
Drugs for Parkinson’s Disease
Selected Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs
Building a Client Base Cont.