Question

A nurse working with the family of a client with Alzheimer's disease notes that the client's spouse is too exhausted to continue as the sole caregiver. The adult children live too far away to provide relief on a regular basis. Which nursing interventions would be most helpful? Select all that apply.

Suggest that the spouse seek psychological counseling to help cope with exhaustion.
Call a family meeting to tell the absent children that they must participate in the client's care. Recommend community resources for adult day care and respite care. Recommend that the client be placed in a long-term care facility. Ask whether friends can help with errands or provide short periods of relief. Encourage the spouse to talk about the difficulties of care giving.

Answer 1

To support a spouse exhausted from caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, a nurse should recommend community resources like adult day care, respite care, inquire about assistance from friends, encourage open discussions about caregiving challenges, consider long-term care options and psychological counseling.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse noticing a client's spouse's exhaustion from caregiving for a family member with Alzheimer's disease should consider several interventions. Firstly, community resources such as adult day care and respite care can be recommended to provide temporary relief and support to the caregiver. Inquiring whether friends might assist with errands or offer short breaks can also be beneficial. Encouraging the spouse to openly discuss the challenges faced in caregiving can serve as a form of emotional support and outlet for stress.

It may also be prudent to explore the option of long-term care, evaluating the client's needs and the family's capability to continue home care. Organizing a family meeting could help address the burden of care by discussing the responsibilities and exploring direct or indirect ways for the children living far away to contribute. Suggesting psychological counseling is another valuable intervention, aiming to support the caregiver's mental health and coping mechanisms amidst the demanding task of caregiving.