Author Question: Many older adults suffer from chronic health problems. Which of the following are the most common ... (Read 68 times)

justinmsk · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

Many older adults suffer from chronic health problems. Which of the following are the most common and costly chronic problems in the older adult? Select all that apply.

a. Heart disease
b. Diabetes
c. Alzheimer's disease
d. Pneumonia

Question 2

The son of an 80-year-old patient tells the nurse, I'm starting to worry about my father's eating habits. He lives alone and has been able to cook, but now he doesn't want to cook and says he is too tired to go to the store.

What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
a. We may need to contact the physician for a nutritional assessment.
b. Your family members will need to get together and bring him meals.
c. It may be time for you to think about nursing home placement.
d. What are your feelings on using some community resources such as Meals on Wheels?

janieazgirl · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A, B
There are 10 leading causes of death for older Americans. Six of the seven leading causes of death among older adults are chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes not only are among the most common but also the most costly health conditions.

Answer to Question 2

D
Maintaining good nutrition and hydration becomes more difficult as a person ages. Nutrition in older adults may be compromised for a multitude of reasons, such as forgetting to eat, inadequate transportation to shop, lack of money, loss of appetite, and physical changes. It is easy to understand how one of the above problems can affect another. In this item, we have no indication that the patient has any deficits, so the best and initial response by the nurse is to offer/educate the family on outside community resources such as Meals on Wheels. A nutritional assessment may be needed at some point if a lack of eating or weight loss continues. Instructing family members to bring meals over is inappropriate, as the nurse has not assessed family circumstances and availability.