Deck 6: Family Influences

Question 1

A daughter is finalizing arrangements to provide in-home care for a dependent parent.In order to best foster the long-term wellness for both the client and the caregiver, the nurse:

A)explains the client's plan of care in detail with both the client and the caregiver.
B)discusses the importance and availability of respite care.
C)encourages the client and caregiver to openly discuss and seek assistance with problems as they arise.
D)provides written information regarding available in-home services.

Answer 1

discusses the importance and availability of respite care.

Question 2

The physical changes that occur naturally as a result of the aging process often create an autonomy versus safety issue and is most problematic when:

A)protracted reaction time increases the risk for automobile driving accidents.
B)arthritic knee joints make falls more prevalent.
C)visual acuity diminishes, making the task of following written instruction more difficult.
D)responding to warning alarms is affected due to impaired hearing acuity.

Answer 2

protracted reaction time increases the risk for automobile driving accidents.

Question 3

An 80-year-old client with diminishing cognitive function is being discharged into the care of his 72-year-old wife.The nurse recognizes that besides the wife's physical ability to provide appropriate care, there is a need to evaluate the:

A)couple's financial resources.
B)couple's social support system.
C)wife's cognitive level of function.
D)client's long-term health prognosis.

Answer 3

wife's cognitive level of function.

Question 4

An older client with cognitive impairment is being cared for by family members.They have expressed concerns about providing appropriate care as his functional level declines.The nurse responds:

A)"I'm glad that you are interested enough in his care that you've expressed this concern."
B)"His abilities will certainly continue to decline. This is the time to discuss other care options."
C)"You are right to be concerned. Let's talk about what issues may come up as he declines further."
D)"The condition is going to worsen. You need to prepare yourselves for the time when you can't meet his needs alone."

Question 5

The son of a client diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease has shared that he feels "so sad" that he is not able to carry on a social conversation with his mother anymore because of her loss of memory.The nurse suggests:

A)keeping conversations short while focusing on things that happened in the past.
B)concentrating on doing things his mother enjoys rather than focusing on talking.
C)participating in family support groups that offer valuable suggestions for communicating with clients like his mother.
D)allowing his mother to pick the topic and then simply being with her "in her world."

Question 6

An older client who lives with his daughter and has a history of chronic alcohol abuse and poor compliance with his medical plan has begun to experience a marked decline in his functional abilities.His daughter tells the nurse that she feels that his problems are a result of her inability to care for him properly.The nurse best addresses the daughter's feelings of guilt by:

A)evaluating the care she has been providing.
B)suggesting that his care should be assumed by a professional caregiver.
C)helping her recognize that the decline is a result of her father's condition and personal choices.
D)assuring her that she is providing him with care motivated by her love for him.

Question 7

The family of an 80-year-old client shares with the nurse that they are concerned that "Dad is too frail to be living alone." The nurse's initial intervention is to:

A)help the client express the importance of living independently to the family members.
B)assess the client's functional abilities related to being able to safely live independently.
C)have the family provide specific examples of behaviors that cause them to doubt the client's ability to live independently.
D)identify ways the family can help assure the client's safety while living independently.

Question 8

The family member caring for a dependent older client tells the nurse that she feels his care is "so out of my control." In order to best assist the caregiver in achieving a sense of confidence, the nurse:

A)encourages the caregiver to regularly attend the meeting of a local support group.
B)identifies the skills and resources that the caregiver needs to provide for the client.
C)arranges for in-home support services to assist with care as needed.
D)explores reasons why the caregiver feels such a lack of control.

Question 9

Adult children of a client beginning to show early signs of cognitive decline, share with the nurse they are reluctant to discuss financial issues because, "Dad was always private about money matters." The nurse responds most therapeutically when suggesting:

A)"Maybe it would less threatening to your father if a lawyer spoke to him about the matter."
B)"Start the conversation off assuring your dad you are only interested in making the financial arrangements he wants."
C)"A social Services representative can discuss the financial aspects of long-term care with your dad."
D)"This is a conversation that has to occur in order to assure your father receives appropriate care."

Question 10

When discussing stressors with the wife/primary caregiver of an 83-year-old client, the nurse explores the issue of dissolving familiar social boundaries when asking:

A)"Has it been a problem taking over the role of head of the family?"
B)"What do you do to help relax and revitalize yourself?"
C)"Do you find it difficult to ask for help when you need it?"
D)"Are there any physical care tasks that you find difficult to complete?"

Question 11

While the children of a 72-year-old man voice concern about their father living alone after having a mild stroke that resulted in only minimal disability, the client angrily disagrees, stating that he's always managed on his own and can do so now.The nurse can be most helpful to this family by:

A)assuring them that their father's physical limitations should not cause a safety issue.
B)assisting them in identifying how they can provide the assistance that will allow their father to live independently.
C)offering to arrange a social service consult to arbitrate the conflict.
D)suggesting that the client accept the services of a home care aide on a short term trial basis.

Question 12

The nurse is about to discuss the possible ways to meet the physical needs of an older adult client with the client's adult children.The nurse guides the discussion based on which of the following American societal realities? Select all that apply.

A)Most dependent older adults prefer to live with family members whenever possible.
B)Family members are generally the care provider for the dependent older adult family member.
C)Nursing facilities are generally viewed as a family's last resort for the care of an older dependent adult family member.
D)A family is generally willing to pay for services related to the care of their older dependent adult family member.
E)The older dependent adult holds the expectation that care will be provided for by their adult family members.