A home health nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer's disease.
The client's son is concerned about his mother becoming frustrated.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?

The correct answer is: d. Location of the identification tag on the client’s body.

Choice A reason: The cause of the client’s death is determined by a physician or a medical examiner and is not typically documented by nurses in postmortem documentation. The cause of death is a medical determination that involves a complex process, including examination and possibly an autopsy.

Choice B reason: The last set of the client’s vital signs is relevant prior to death and is part of the end-of-life documentation. However, once the client has passed away, recording vital signs is no longer applicable and is not included in postmortem documentation.

Choice C reason: A copy of the client’s advance directives is an important document that outlines the client’s wishes regarding medical treatment and interventions. While it is crucial before the client’s death, it does not need to be included in postmortem documentation, as it serves no purpose after death.

Choice D reason: The location of the identification tag on the client’s body is a critical piece of information that must be included in postmortem documentation. This ensures that the body is correctly identified throughout the postmortem process, including during transfer to a mortuary or funeral home.

Choice A rationale:

This is the correct answer. Older adults often experience decreased kidney function as a normal part of aging. Medications that are excreted primarily by the kidneys may require dosage adjustments to prevent potential toxicity.

Choice B rationale:

Increased liver function is not a typical physiological change in older adults. Liver function tends to decrease with age, which can affect the metabolism and clearance of certain medications.

Choice C rationale:

Increased metabolism is not a common physiological change in older adults. Metabolic rate tends to decrease with age, which can affect the metabolism of drugs.

Choice D rationale:

While pulmonary function may decrease with age, it is not the primary physiological change to consider when administering medications to older adults. Kidney function is a more critical factor in medication dosing for this population.