An older client is admitted to the hospital with bronchitis. The client's family asks the nurse why the family member is so sick when others in the family are not affected in the same way. The nurse should teach the family that:
1. older clients have problems with adequate nutrition and are more susceptible to respiratory infections as a result.
2. the chest wall of the older client is more elastic, allowing a buildup of more secretions.
3. the older client has less cilia and a weaker cough that makes it difficult to get secretions out of the lungs.
4. the older client has much thinner secretions than does the young one.
Answer: 3
1. It is not true that older clients tend to be in poor nutritional condition.
2. The chest wall becomes stiffer as we age, making it difficult to clear secretions from the lungs.
3. Along with stiffer chest wall muscles, the older client also has a diminished or weaker cough and decreased cilia to clear secretions.
4. Because older clients are not as well hydrated, the tendency is for secretions to be thicker and sticky.
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