Final answer:
In a nurse's examination of an older adult's history, it is most typical to find that the individual lives alone, a phenomenon resulting from societal changes during industrialization. Caregivers often perpetrate abuse against the elderly, and risks of mistreatment can increase with factors such as widowhood.
Step-by-step explanation:
In obtaining a history on an older adult, the nurse will most typically find that the patient lives alone. This is reflective of the societal shifts that occurred during industrialization when younger generations moved to cities for work, leaving the elderly to live apart from their grown children. This change in family structure has been linked to various issues, including the risk of mistreatment and abuse among the elderly, which is often perpetrated by caregivers rather than spouses or strangers. It is also important to note that factors such as bereavement due to widowhood can increase the risk of mistreatment for elderly individuals.