A charge nurse in a long-term care facility is developing an educational program for staff members about common physiological changes in older adults. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

A) Painful vesicles along a dermatome:
This finding is typically associated with herpes zoster (shingles), not scabies. Shingles causes painful vesicles that follow the path of a nerve and are confined to one side of the body, which does not align with the presentation of scabies.

B) Acneiform nodules on the face:
Acneiform nodules are related to conditions such as acne vulgaris, not scabies. Scabies does not typically present with acne-like lesions on the face but rather with intense itching and a specific rash.

C) Wheals surrounding raised bite marks:
Wheals and bite marks are more indicative of insect bites or conditions like urticaria (hives). Scabies is caused by mites that burrow under the skin, leading to a different type of rash.

D) Raised, linear burrows:
Raised, linear burrows are characteristic of scabies. These burrows are caused by the female mite as it tunnels just under the skin to lay eggs, resulting in a distinctive rash and intense itching, especially at night.

A) Decreased systolic blood pressure: In older adults, systolic blood pressure often increases due to stiffening of the arteries rather than decreasing. This increase in systolic blood pressure is due to reduced elasticity in blood vessels, making it a common physiological change.

B) Decreased anteroposterior chest diameter: In fact, the anteroposterior chest diameter often increases with age due to changes in the rib cage and spine, such as kyphosis. An increased chest diameter is observed in older adults, not a decrease.

C) Increased cerumen thickness: As people age, cerumen (earwax) production can increase and the cerumen can become thicker and drier. This is due to changes in the ceruminous glands and can lead to more frequent earwax impaction in older adults, making it a relevant point to include in the educational program.

D) Increased saliva production: Typically, older adults experience a decrease in saliva production, not an increase. Reduced saliva production can contribute to difficulties with chewing, swallowing, and oral health.