You are caring for an elderly patient who lives alone. The patient is complaining of feeling unwell for a period of several days and seems to be unable to provide a detailed personal medical history. An appropriate assessment of this patient should include:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the patient lives alone and is unable to provide a detailed personal medical history, it is important to assess their living conditions, nutrition, and social support to identify any potential underlying factors contributing to their illness. Contacting adult protective services or exposing the patient to signs of physical abuse without sufficient evidence is not appropriate or ethical. Contacting the patient's physician may be necessary but should not be the only assessment made.

You Are Caring for an Elderly Patient Who Lives Alone