Ms. Lopez is a widowed 68-year-old Nicaraguan woman and an immigrant who has lived in the United States for ten years. She lives in the second floor of a walk-up apartment with her daughter and son-in-law and their four children. Ms. Lopez is admitted to the hospital, is diagnosed with a stroke, and has weakness in her left side. She complains of coughing when she drinks and feels that food sometimes gets caught in her throat. She has diabetes and high blood pressure and is on several oral medications. She does not, however, check her blood sugar levels regularly because she does not feel comfortable pricking her finger. Her body mass index (BMI) is 33. Ms. Lopez is undocumented and uninsured.
-Assessing whether Ms. Lopez's left-sided weakness is affecting her ability to perform activities of daily living is the job of which member of the interdisciplinary team?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The occupational therapist assesses a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living, including dressing, grooming, bathing, and eating. In this case, Ms. Lopez's left-sided weakness may be affecting her ability to perform these activities, so it is the job of the occupational therapist to assess this. The nurse, physician, speech-language pathologist, and social worker may also be involved in Ms. Lopez's care, but their specific roles would be different.

Ms Lopez Is a Widowed 68-Year-Old Nicaraguan Woman and an Immigrant