A 73-year-old male is brought in by ambulance from a long-term care facility. The patient's symptoms are weakness, lethargy, incontinence, and a change in mental status
The nurse knows that emergencies in the elderly may be more difficult to manage. Why would this be true?
A) Elderly people may have an altered response to treatment.
B) Elderly people may have less risk of developing complications.
C) Elderly people have difficulty giving a history.
D) Elderly people may perceive the trip to the ED as the end of their dependence.
Ans: A
Feedback: Emergencies in this age group may be more difficult to manage because elderly patients may have an atypical presentation, an altered response to treatment, a greater risk of developing complications, or a combination of these factors. The elderly patient may perceive the emergency as a crisis signaling the end of an independent lifestyle or even resulting in death.
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