Question

A nurse is caring for an older client who has dementia and has wandered into the day room looking for her deceased partner. Which of the following should the nurse take?

A) Redirect the client's attention to a different activity
B) Confront the client about the deceased partner
C) Encourage the client to recall memories of the partner
D) Remind the client that the partner has passed away

Answer 1

A nurse should handle a dementia patient asking for a deceased loved one sensitively, by providing comfort and distraction, rather than reminding them of the death, to avoid unnecessary distress.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse encounters an older client with dementia who is looking for a deceased partner, it's important to handle the situation with sensitivity and understanding rather than direct confrontation about the partner's death. Reminding a person with dementia about a loved one's death can cause them to relive the grief and pain as if hearing it for the first time, due to their memory impairment. Instead, the nurse can gently redirect the client to another activity or engage in a conversation to distract from their current focus.

Considering the emotions and confusion that accompany dementia, especially in a hospice setting, it is vital to maintain a familiar and comforting environment. Discussions on death and dying, and the challenges facing the elderly, highlight the need for a compassionate approach that minimizes stress and anxiety for individuals with cognitive decline.