Practice Question
During a home visit the licensed nurse decides to focus on assessing an older patient's mental status. What did the nurse observe to make this clinical determination?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Increasing isolation from friends, family, and activities
Rationale:
💎 Increasing social isolation in an older adult often signals potential changes in mental status, such as depression, cognitive decline, or early dementia. Withdrawal from previously enjoyed relationships and activities is a key behavioral indicator that mental or emotional health may be deteriorating.
💎 While occasional forgetfulness (like misplacing items or forgetting instructions) can be part of normal aging, social withdrawal reflects deeper cognitive or emotional changes requiring further assessment.
💎 During a home visit, the nurse should evaluate for depression, anxiety, memory loss, or confusion, and assess the patient’s support systems, mood, and safety at home.
💎 Early identification of mental health changes allows for timely intervention, counseling, and referral to appropriate healthcare providers.
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This question is from VNSG201 Geriatrics Summer 2025 (NS) Final Exam which contains 25 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
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When entering the home of an older patient the nurse smells smoke. What should be done first?
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From Exam
VNSG201 Geriatrics Summer 2025 (NS) Final Exam
25 Questions
View Full Exam Start PracticingQuestion Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN HESI Exams
- Domain: Fundamentals of Nursing
- Answer Choices: 4