The nurse is assessing a 68-year-old client who appears disheveled. At previous appointments, the client was well kept with good hygiene practices. Today, the client's clothes do not match, the client's hair is unkempt, and the client has intense body odor. The nurse is concerned about this change in self-care. When conducting the assessment, what is the primary factor the nurse should consider?

Question

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A)In older clients, changes in self-care habits are frequently in response to stress, but they could also be related to dementia and an inability to remember how to use basic grooming tools. The nurse needs to determine the cause of the self-care changes. A lack of understanding of technology and living independently could be causes of stress, and forgetting to take medications could be a sign of dementia, so these are secondary considerations after determining whether the changes are due to stress or dementia.
B)In older clients, changes in self-care habits are frequently in response to stress, but they could also be related to dementia and an inability to remember how to use basic grooming tools. The nurse needs to determine the cause of the self-care changes. A lack of understanding of technology and living independently could be causes of stress, and forgetting to take medications could be a sign of dementia, so these are secondary considerations after determining whether the changes are due to stress or dementia.
C)In older clients, changes in self-care habits are frequently in response to stress, but they could also be related to dementia and an inability to remember how to use basic grooming tools. The nurse needs to determine the cause of the self-care changes. A lack of understanding of technology and living independently could be causes of stress, and forgetting to take medications could be a sign of dementia, so these are secondary considerations after determining whether the changes are due to stress or dementia.
D)In older clients, changes in self-care habits are frequently in response to stress, but they could also be related to dementia and an inability to remember how to use basic grooming tools. The nurse needs to determine the cause of the self-care changes. A lack of understanding of technology and living independently could be causes of stress, and forgetting to take medications could be a sign of dementia, so these are secondary considerations after determining whether the changes are due to stress or dementia.

The Nurse Is Assessing a 68-Year-Old Client Who Appears Disheveled