Final answer:
The home health nurse should refer the caregiver for respite care as it provides temporary relief and helps prevent burnout, allowing the caregiver to complete personal errands and maintain wellbeing.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a home health nurse is planning care for a client with Alzheimer's disease and the client's partner, who is the primary caregiver, is struggling with time to complete errands, the most appropriate referral would likely be D. Respite care. Respite care is designed to provide temporary relief to caregivers, allowing them time to attend to personal matters, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. This type of support can be incredibly beneficial as it allows the caregiver to take a break, ensuring that they can continue to provide the quality care needed for their partner with Alzheimer's disease.
While hospice care can be valuable for end-of-life care and support for both the patient and their family, it is specifically for those with terminal illness when curative treatment is no longer an option. In this case, the caregiver's need is for temporary assistance rather than end-of-life care. Hence, referrals for additional services such as restorative care or mental health care might be considered in conjunction with, but are not a direct solution to the immediate need for relief in caregiving responsibilities.