An elderly client has been discharged home after a short illness and stay in acute care. The physician has written an order for home health follow-up. In order to better understand the need for any assistive devices, when should the home health nurse make an assessment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The home health nurse should conduct an assessment at the initial home visit in order to see the client in their home environment and assess the need for any assistive devices. Waiting until the client has been home for a few days may not allow for timely intervention and waiting until the spouse is available may not accurately assess the client's ability to perform activities of daily living independently. Conducting the assessment while the client is still in the hospital would not be feasible as the nurse needs to see the client in their home environment.

An Elderly Client Has Been Discharged Home After a Short