The wife of a 70-year-old client who is recuperating at home from hip

The wife of a 70-year-old client who is recuperating at home from hip replacement surgery ex-presses a concern to the nurse that “He must be getting depressed. He just doesn’t interact with people like he used to.”

Which of the following is the nurse’s most therapeutic response?
1. “Are there any other signs of depressions?”
2. “Does he usually enjoy interacting with visitors?”
3. “Do you think he may be having difficulty hearing what people are saying to him?”
4. “Well he could be. Do you want me to see if his health care provider will order an antidepressant?”

ANSWER

ANS: 3
A concern with normal age-related sensory changes is that older adults with a deficit are some-times inappropriately diagnosed with dementia or depression. The remaining options assume that depression may be the cause of his personality change.