A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has COPD. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Increasing regular weight-bearing activities can help prevent osteoporosis by stimulating bone formation and improving muscle strength. Weight-bearing activities are those that make your bones and muscles work against gravity, such as walking, jogging, dancing, or lifting weights.

Choice A is wrong because protecting the client’s bones with strict bedrest can actually increase the risk of osteoporosis by reducing bone density and muscle mass. Bedrest should be avoided unless medically necessary.

Choice B is wrong because providing the client with assisted range of motion exercises twice daily is not enough to prevent osteoporosis. While these exercises can help maintain joint mobility and flexibility, they are not weight bearing and do not stimulate bone formation.

Choice C is wrong because decreasing the amount of calcium in the client’s diet can also increase the risk of osteoporosis. Calcium is an essential mineral for bone health and adults need 700mg a day, which can be obtained from foods such as dairy products, leafy green vegetables, tofu, and dried fruit. Vitamin D is also important for bone health as it helps the body absorb calcium.

Neglect refers to the refusal or failure to provide an elderly person with necessary care, such as food, water, shelter, personal hygiene, medicine, and other essentials of daily living. Signs and symptoms of neglect in elders can include: dehydration, malnutrition, bed sores, fractures, urinary tract infections, contractures, over-medication, elopements, and poor personal hygiene. An elderly client who is admitted to the hospital looking unkempt, with dirty clothing, and smelling of urine may be suffering from neglect by a caregiver or by themselves (self-neglect).

Choice A is wrong because institutionalism is not a type of elder abuse but a term that describes the loss of individuality and autonomy that can occur in institutional settings such as nursing homes.

Choice C is wrong because emotional abuse is the infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, intimidation, or other abusive conduct. Signs and symptoms of emotional abuse in elders can include: depression, confusion, withdrawal, isolation from friends and family. An elderly client who smells of urine may not necessarily be emotionally abused.

Choice D is wrong because stubborn behavior is not a type of elder abuse but a personality trait that may or may not be present in an elderly person.

Stubborn behavior does not indicate any harm or neglect inflicted upon an older adult by others or themselves.