You are part of the health care team caring for an 87-year-old woman who has been admitted to your rehabilitation facility after falling and fracturing her left hip
The patient appears to be failing to regain functional ability and may have to be readmitted to an acute-care facility. When planning this patient's care, what do you know about the negative effects of the stress associated with pain?
A) Stress is less pronounced in older adults because they generally have more sophisticated coping skills than younger adults
B) It is particularly harmful in the elderly who have been injured or who are ill.
C) It affects only those patients who are already debilitated prior to experiencing pain.
D) It has no inherent negative effects; it just alerts the person/health care team of an underlying disease process.
Ans: B
Feedback:
The widespread endocrine, immunologic, and inflammatory changes that occur with the stress of pain can have significant negative effects. This is particularly harmful in patients whose health is already compromised by age, illness, or injury. Older adults are not immune to the negative effects of stress. Prior debilitation does not have to be present in order for stress to cause potential harm.
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