The nurse is completing discharge teaching to the family of a hospitalized older adult client. Which of the following is most important for the nurse to include in this teaching plan?

Question

1. Reducing the amount of odor in the client's immediate environment
2. Protecting the client from injury due to increased pain threshold
3. Speaking in an increasingly loud voice as client's hearing decreases
4. Avoiding range of motion exercises due to loss of bone density and increased risk for fracture

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: The sense of smell decreases with age; reducing the amount of odor in the client's immediate environment is not a priority.
Rationale 2: Protecting the client from injury is the most important teaching point. In the older adult, there is an increased threshold for the sensation of pain and touch as well as a decrease in reaction time.
Rationale 3: Older adults experience a gradual loss of hearing; speaking at a level that the client can hear is important, but not above protection from injury.
Rationale 4: Range of motion should be encouraged to facilitate mobility and is not a risk factor for fractures.