The spouse of your 72-year-old patient has asked you to assess his wife's nutritional status because she has lost weight over a 4-month period.Which of the following patient problems is of most concern because of the risk for aspiration?

Question

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Possible problems that may be noted when assessing the elderly are difficulty chewing (oral problems such as canker sores),difficulty swallowing (possible stroke or Parkinson's,which could cause aspiration),decreased appetite,decreased ability to feed self,and decreased taste and smell.There is also a decreased emptying time of the esophagus,making the older adult more susceptible to aspiration.All of the options are possible problems for the elderly; however,difficulty swallowing is of most concern because of the risk for aspiration.

The Spouse of Your 72-Year-Old Patient Has Asked You to Assess