A 72-year-old man has been brought to his primary care provider by his daughter, who claims that he has been experiencing uncharacteristic lapses in memory. What principle should underlie the nurse's assessment and management of this patient?
A) Loss of short-term memory is normal in older adults, but loss of long-term memory is pathologic.
B) Lapses in memory in older adults are considered benign unless they have negative consequences.
C) Gradual increases in confusion accompany the aging process.
D) Thorough assessment is necessary because changes in cognition are always considered to be pathologic.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Although mental processing time decreases with age, memory, language, and judgment capacities remain intact. Change in mental status should never be assumed to be a normal part of aging.
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