A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hours postoperative following a total knee arthroplasty. The client reports a pain level of 3 on a scale from 0 to 10. Which of the following nonpharmacological pain management therapies should the nurse recommend?

Choice A reason: A speech-language pathologist assesses swallowing difficulties, recommending safe feeding techniques for dysphagia, critical for preventing choking and aspiration in older adults. This referral ensures tailored interventions, essential for nutritional safety, reducing pneumonia risk, and supporting quality of life in long-term care settings.

Choice B reason: Occupational therapists address functional skills, not primarily swallowing, which is managed by speech-language pathologists for dysphagia. Assuming their role risks delayed swallowing assessment, potentially increasing choking risk, critical to avoid in ensuring safe eating for older adults in long-term care facilities.

Choice C reason: Respiratory therapists manage breathing issues, not swallowing difficulties, which require a speech-language pathologist for dysphagia. Assuming their involvement risks missing specialized swallowing care, potentially leading to aspiration, critical to prevent in ensuring safe nutrition for older adults with choking risks.

Choice D reason: Social workers address psychosocial needs, not swallowing issues, managed by speech-language pathologists for dysphagia. Assuming their role risks neglecting physical swallowing assessment, increasing choking or aspiration risk, critical to avoid in ensuring safe meal management for older adults in long-term care.

Choice A reason: Discussing communication methods addresses client behaviors but not the caregiver’s stress from constant care. A daycare program offers respite. Focusing on communication risks neglecting caregiver well-being, potentially worsening burnout, critical to avoid in supporting caregivers of Alzheimer’s clients with high care demands.

Choice B reason: Suggesting antipsychotics for the client addresses behavior but not caregiver stress, and is inappropriate without medical evaluation. Daycare provides relief. Assuming medication is the solution risks unnecessary drug use, potentially causing side effects, critical to avoid in supporting caregiver health and client safety.

Choice C reason: Allowing the client time alone is unsafe for Alzheimer’s patients due to wandering risks and does not relieve caregiver stress. Daycare is effective. Assuming alone time helps risks client safety and caregiver burden, critical to prevent in ensuring comprehensive care for Alzheimer’s clients and caregivers.

Choice D reason: Assisting with a daycare program provides respite, reducing caregiver stress and preventing burnout while ensuring client safety. This intervention supports caregiver well-being, critical for sustained care quality, promoting mental health, and enabling effective management of Alzheimer’s disease in home settings with high care demands.