An 85-year-old retired man with arthritis has recently been prescribed a new medication by his health care provider for pain management.The health care provider identifies that the patient is currently taking 13 different medications on a daily basis.The health care provider is concerned about the patient's safety in the home.Which of the following is most important to assess?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The physiological changes associated with aging (85 years old),effects of multiple medications (13 different medications),psychological factors,and acute or chronic disease (arthritis)increase the older adult's risk for falls and other types of accidents.Fear of falling is common among community-dwelling older adults,who both do and do not have a history of falling.As a result of their fear,many older adults avoid activities or change the way in which they walk and position themselves,making them more at risk for falling.It is important to learn what conditions increase a person's fear of falling so that steps can be taken to remove or change any hazards in the home.Marital status and cultural beliefs are not priority assessment issues for home safety.Skin breakdown could occur if the patient was immobile but this is not the priority home safety issue for this patient and there is no data in the question to indicate the patient is immobile.

An 85-Year-Old Retired Man with Arthritis Has Recently Been Prescribed