Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 70%
Full-length
A 76-year-old client is admitted to a long-term care facility with Alzheimer's-type dementia. The client has been wearing the same dirty clothes for several days. The nurse contacts the family and asks them to bring in clean clothing. Which intervention would best prevent further regression in the client's personal hygiene?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Clients with Alzheimer's-type dementia tend to fluctuate in their capabilities. Encouraging self-care to the extent possible helps increase the client's orientation and promotes a trusting relationship with the nurse. Making the client assume responsibility for physical care is unreasonable. Assigning a staff member to take over the client's physical care restricts the client's independence. Accepting the client's desire to go without bathing promotes poor hygiene.