Final answer:
The best approach to discharge planning for an elderly patient and spouse with health issues is to discuss community resources and offer referrals, respecting the couple's independence and offering necessary support.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best approach to discharge planning for a 78-year-old patient transitioning to home after treatment for heart disease, with a spouse suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is D. Discuss community resources with the spouse and offer to make referrals. This approach recognizes the importance of the elder couple's independence, while also providing support through available community resources. Consulting the spouse's healthcare provider could also be beneficial, but it might intrude on their privacy, and contacting the children may be presumptive and ignore the importance of the patient and spouse's agency in their care. In the interest of a holistic care plan, discussing the availability and arranging for community resources respects the patient and spouse's autonomy and addresses potential caregiving challenges.
As demographics and attitudes toward elder care vary, it is essential to accommodate an individual's or a couple's preference for aging and care, keeping in mind that many elderly persons now make proactive decisions regarding their care in advance. It is increasingly common for the elderly to live independently or with minimal external support. Considering these factors, and the reality that many family caregivers are also employed outside the home, offering to make referrals to community resources balances the need for assistance with respect for the couple's independence.