A 54-year-old client expresses concern about her weakening sense of sm

A 54-year-old client expresses concern about her weakening sense of smell to the nurse during an admission interview. The nurse’s most therapeutic response is:

1. “I don’t think it is anything to worry about, but you could mention it to your health care provider”
2. “That is really a fairly common complaint of people your age; I don’t think there is anything to worry about”
3. “As long as you can smell things like smoke if there is a fire, I think it is some-thing you need to get used to”
4. “As long as you can smell things like smoke if there is a fire, I think it is some-thing you need to get used to”

ANSWER

ANS: 4
Gustatory and olfactory changes begin around age 50 and include a decrease in the number of taste buds and a decrease in the number of sensory cells in the nasal lining. Reduced taste dis-crimination and reduced sensitivity to odors are common. The remaining options do not provide the most likely cause of the sensory deficit.