An 80-year-old man arrives in the emergency department after suffering a severe heart attack.His condition is deteriorating and the physician informs the wife,also an older adult,that they do not expect him to live.The wife begins to cry uncontrollably and tells the nurse,"We have been married for 60 years.What am I going to do?" What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The death of a spouse is no less traumatic for an older adult than it would be for a young spouse.Losing someone with whom one has spent most of one's life is an incredible loss,whether it is expected or unexpected.The best response is to validate this with the spouse.At this most painful time,it is not appropriate nor can it be expected that a spouse will understand that death is part of life.An attempt to comfort a spouse by responding that "he did live to 80 years old" demonstrates ageism and will not comfort a spouse at this time.It is appropriate to contact a social worker for home assistance; however,this can be done after recognizing and acknowledging the spouse's loss.

An 80-Year-Old Man Arrives in the Emergency Department After Suffering