When assessing an older adult patient, the nurse notes that the patient demonstrates an inability to take purposeful action even when the muscles, senses, and vocabulary appear to be intact. The patient appears to register on a command but acts in a way that suggests little understanding of what transpired verbally. The nurse recognizes these assessment findings as consistent with which of the following conditions?

Question

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Apraxia, defined as the loss of the ability to take purposeful action even when the muscles, senses, and vocabulary seem intact, is a common feature of dementia. The person appears to register on a command but acts in ways that suggest he or she has little understanding of what transpired verbally. Presbycusis is the most common type of sensorineural hearing loss caused by the natural aging of the auditory system. The patient is said to have intact senses. Somatization is a mental health problem that produces recurrent and multiple medical symptoms with no discernible organic cause. Polypharmacy occurs when a client has many multiple medications needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Polypharmacy places older adults at risk for side effects and drug interactions because of age-related changes in metabolism. None of the remaining options is as likely to cause the patient's symptoms as apraxia.

When Assessing an Older Adult Patient, the Nurse Notes That