A home care nurse visits a 68-year-old man who lives alone and has no family and finds him tearful and withdrawn. The patient has been managing well at home up until this time. The nurse would take which of the following actions?
A) Reassess the patient's psychosocial status and make the necessary referrals.
B) Have the patient volunteer in the community for social contact.
C) Arrange for him to be reassessed by his physician.
D) Encourage joining a group that plays cards every week.
Ans: A
Feedback: The patient is exhibiting signs of depression and should be reassessed and a referral made as necessary. Patients with chronic illness are at an increased risk of depression.
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