Question

Why should a PT stop practice with an older adult after they start feeling competent and confident in the task? a) To avoid overconfidence

b) To encourage independence
c) To promote self-practice
d) None of the above

Answer 1

A physical therapist should stop practice with an older adult after the individual feels competent to encourage independence, aligning with Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a physical therapist (PT) stops practice with an older adult after they start feeling competent and confident in a task, the answer is b) To encourage independence. The reason for this is that once an individual feels competent, the PT's goal is to promote independent practice outside of the therapy sessions. This approach aligns with Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, where the main task of an adolescent is feeling competent, and for older adults, it involves overcoming despair to achieve integrity, not overconfidence. Encouraging independence in older adults can help them maintain physical abilities and improve their quality of life by integrating the skills they have learned into their daily routine, thus fulfilling their psychosocial developmental needs.