A 75-year-old male client is brought to the clinic by his son. The son states, "Ever since Mom died, Dad hasn't been the same. At first he just seemed sad, but now he seems to get mixed up about everything
" The nurse is aware that based on the client's history, the source of confusion is most likely: a. Dementia
b. Depression from the loss of his wife
c. Hypoxia of the brain
d. Delirium from medications
B
Depression in the elderly population is often a cause of confusion. The son's description of the behaviors of his father since his wife's death indicate that he became depressed, which has been followed by confusion. Dementia is a gradual onset of confusion, hypoxia is the result of brain injury, and delirium is sudden. Even though it appears that the confusion is caused by the depression, a thorough examination is warranted to confirm the cause.
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