An older adult recently retired and reports "being depressed and lonely." What information should the nurse assess as a priority?
a. History of previous depression
b. Previous stressful events
c. Role of work in the adult's life
d. Usual leisure time activities
ANS: C
Often older adults lose support systems when their roles change. For instance, when people retire, they may lose their entire social network, leading them to feeling depressed and lonely. The nurse should first assess the role that work played in the client's life. The other factors can be assessed as well, but this circumstance is commonly seen in the older population.
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