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A community health nurse is conducting a vision screening at a health fair for an older adult client who has age-related macular degeneration. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client is adapting to the changes?

a) "I'm having difficulty seeing things up close."
b) "Colors seem dull and less vibrant."
c) "I've noticed I need brighter light to see clearly."
d) "There's a black spot in the center of my vision."

User Rfusca
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Final answer:

The indication that an older adult client with age-related macular degeneration is adapting to the changes is the statement "I've noticed I need brighter light to see clearly.", as it reflects an adaptation strategy to cope with reduced visual acuity.

Step-by-step explanation:

A community health nurse evaluating whether an older adult client is adapting to changes caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) would identify statement (c) "I've noticed I need brighter light to see clearly." as an indication of adaptation. AMD is the most common cause of blindness in the Western hemisphere and manifests with a black spot in the center of the vision as a result of the death of the retinal pigment epithelium cells, which support the macula. With the loss of macular function, patients may need more light due to the reduction in visual acuity, and adapting by ensuring there is sufficient lighting is a strategy to cope with these changes. In contrast, the other statements (a) "I'm having difficulty seeing things up close.", (b) "Colors seem dull and less vibrant.", and (d) "There's a black spot in the center of my vision." highlight the symptoms of AMD rather than adaptation strategies.

User Akeno
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