An older woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease lives with family and attends day care. After observing poor hygiene, the nurse talked with the caregiver. This caregiver became defensive and said, "It takes all my energy to care for my mother
She's awake all night. I never get any sleep." Which nursing intervention has priority?
a. Teach the caregiver about the effects of sundowner's syndrome.
b. Secure additional resources for the mother's evening and night care.
c. Support the caregiver to grieve the loss of the mother's cognitive abilities.
d. Teach the family how to give physical care more effectively and efficiently.
ANS: B
The patient's caregivers were coping with care until the patient began to stay awake at night. The family needs assistance with evening and night care to resume their pre-crisis state of functioning. Secondary prevention calls for the nurse to mobilize community resources to relieve overwhelming stress. The other interventions may then be accomplished.
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