The patient is an 80-year-old male who is visiting the clinic today for a routine physical examination. The patient's skin turgor is fair, but the patient reports fatigue and weakness. The skin is warm and dry, pulse rate is 116 beats/min, and urinary sodium level is slightly elevated. Which instruction should the nurse provide?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thirst sensation diminishes, leading to inadequate fluid intake or dehydration; the patient should be encouraged to drink more water/fluids. Symptoms of dehydration in older adults include confusion, weakness, hot dry skin, furrowed tongue, and high urinary sodium. Milk continues to be an important food for older woman and men, who need adequate calcium to protect against osteoporosis; the patient's problem is dehydration, not osteoporosis. Caution older adults to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice because these will decrease absorption of many drugs. The patient needs fluids not calories; drinking calorie-dense fluids is unnecessary.

The Patient Is an 80-Year-Old Male Who Is Visiting the Clinic