An older adult client with a history of severe rheumatoid arthritis is preparing for discharge to an assisted living facility. The client has intact swallowing reflexes but has been steadily losing weight over the past week. During meals, the nurse observes that severe joint deformities in the client's hands prevent them from holding standard forks and spoons. Which action should the nurse take to most appropriately address this clinical issue?
- AConsult a registered dietitian immediately to calculate an increased daily caloric requirement.
- BDelegate the evaluation of the client's baseline self-feeding abilities to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
- Arrange for an occupational therapy evaluation to obtain adaptive feeding devices.Cevap
- DAssure the client that they do not need to worry because the facility staff will gladly feed them every day.
Cevap
The most appropriate action is to arrange for an occupational therapy evaluation so the client can receive adaptive feeding devices.
The correct action directly addresses the root cause of the client's weight loss. Occupational therapists specialize in maximizing independence in activities of daily living (ADLs). By evaluating the client for adaptive feeding devices, such as built-up or weighted utensils, the therapist can help bypass the severe joint deformities caused by rheumatoid arthritis, allowing the client to feed themselves safely and effectively.
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Anahtar Kavram
Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice for ADLs