A 68-year-old female client tells the home care nurse that she is worr

A 68-year-old female client tells the home care nurse that she is worried about her 70-year-old husband because he does not eat as much as he used to when he was younger. Which of the fol-lowing is the best response from the nurse?

1. “Perhaps your husband needs to have his thyroid level checked.”
2. “Your husband is at an age when his metabolism is slowing down and his energy requirements aren’t as great as they were when he was younger.”
3. “Are you fixing the foods that he likes?”
4. “That should cut down on your grocery bill.”

ANSWER

ANS: 2
Adults 65 years and older have a decreased need for energy as metabolic rate slows with age. However, vitamin and mineral requirements remain unchanged from middle adulthood.