Question

A nurse is speaking with the adult child of a client who has severe Alzheimer's disease. The child is crying and tells the nurse, "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

a) "You should consider placing your parent in a nursing home."
b) "It's tough, but you need to manage your emotions better."
c) "I can see that this is really challenging for you. Let's explore some support options."
d) "Don't worry; things will get better with time."

Answer 1

The most appropriate nurse's response to the adult child of a client with severe Alzheimer's disease is to acknowledge the challenge and offer help by exploring support options.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's role often includes providing emotional support and exploring viable solutions for clients and their families. In the scenario presented, the adult child of a client with severe Alzheimer's disease is experiencing emotional distress. The most appropriate and professional response for the nurse to make is c) "I can see that this is really challenging for you. Let's explore some support options." This response acknowledges the emotional struggle the child is experiencing and also offers to assist in finding support, which can come in many forms including respite care, counseling, support groups, and exploring long-term care options if necessary.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease can be extremely challenging and often requires caregivers to make difficult decisions regarding long-term care and support mechanisms, considering the disease's severe impact on cognitive and functional abilities. Support options for caregivers are crucial to managing the chronic stress associated with caregiving, as chronic stress can impair caregivers' health, such as a weakened immune response.