A nurse is administering medications to a client who is 65 years old. The nurse knows that older adults are at increased risk for adverse drug reactions due to which of the following physiological changes?

The correct answer is B.

Instruct the client to tuck their chin when swallowing.

This action helps to prevent aspiration by closing off the airway and directing food and liquid into the esophagus.It also reduces the risk of food getting stuck in the throat or chest.

Choice A is wrong because thin liquids are more difficult to swallow and control for clients who have dysphagia due to decreased esophageal motility.They can easily enter the airway and cause choking or pneumonia.

Choice C is wrong because hot or spicy foods can irritate the esophagus and worsen the symptoms of dysphagia.They can also trigger reflux, which can damage the esophageal lining and cause narrowing or inflammation.

Choice D is wrong because elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees during meals is not enough to prevent aspiration or regurgitation.The client should be sitting upright at 90 degrees or higher to facilitate swallowing and gravity.

Normal ranges for esophageal motility are:.

• Lower esophageal sphincter pressure: 10 to 45 mm Hg.

• Peristaltic amplitude: 30 to 180 mm Hg.

• Peristaltic duration: 2.5 to 6 seconds.

• Peristaltic velocity: 2 to 4.5 cm/s.

The correct answer isD.

Decreased perspiration.This is because the sweat glands become less active with aging, resulting in reduced sweating and dryness of the skin.Decreased perspiration can also affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and may cause heat intolerance.

Choice A is wrong becauseincreased skin vascularityis not a normal age-related change in the integumentary system.In fact, the blood vessels in the skin become thinner and less elastic, resulting in decreased perfusion and a paler skin tone.

Choice B is wrong becausedecreased skin fragilityis not a normal age-related change in the integumentary system.On the contrary, the skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and more prone to splitting, cracking, and infections due to reduced collagen and elastin production, decreased mitosis in the epidermis, and lowered immunity.

Choice C is wrong becauseincreased sebaceous gland activityis not a normal age-related change in the integumentary system.Rather, the sebaceous glands produce less sebum, which contributes to the dryness and loss of moisture in the skin.

Normal ranges for some of the parameters related to the integumentary system are:.

• Skin thickness: varies depending on body location, but generally ranges from 0.5 mm to 4 mm.

• Skin elasticity: measured by the Cutometer device, which uses negative pressure to lift the skin and calculate its elasticity.

A higher value indicates more elastic skin.The average elasticity value for young adults is 0.82, while for older adults it is 0.57.

• Skin moisture: measured by the Corneometer device, which uses electrical capacitance to assess the hydration level of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin).

A higher value indicates more hydrated skin.The average moisture value for young adults is 62.8, while for older adults it is 51.3.

• Perspiration: measured by the Evaporimeter device, which uses a humidity sensor to detect the amount of water vapor lost from the skin surface.

A higher value indicates more perspiration.The average perspiration value for young adults is 13.9 g/m2/h, while for older adults it is 9.8 g/m2/h.