A nurse is caring for an older adult. Which sensory change will the nurse identify as normal during the assessment?

Choice A reason: Bathtub grab bars enhance safety by preventing falls during bathing, a common risk area for injuries. This is a positive finding, reducing the likelihood of accidents, and does not require intervention. The nurse would not address this as a safety problem, making it incorrect.

Choice B reason: A faintly lit stairway increases fall risk, especially for older adults or those with visual impairments. Poor lighting obscures steps, leading to missteps or tripping. The nurse must address this by recommending brighter lighting or handrails to ensure safe navigation, making this a correct safety concern.

Choice C reason: Low pile carpeting is safe, as it reduces tripping hazards compared to high pile or loose rugs. It provides stable footing without obstructing mobility. This finding does not pose a safety risk, so the nurse would not address it, making it an incorrect choice.

Choice D reason: Scatter rugs in the kitchen are a tripping hazard, particularly in high-traffic areas. They can slide or bunch, increasing fall risk, especially for elderly patients. The nurse must address this by recommending removal or securing rugs, making this a correct safety concern to mitigate accidents.

Choice E reason: Absence of smoke alarms is a critical safety issue, as it leaves the home vulnerable to undetected fires, endangering the patient. The nurse must address this by recommending installation of smoke detectors, ensuring early warning for emergencies, making this a correct safety concern.

Choice A reason: Meditation does not alter the chemical composition of pain neuroregulators. The gate control theory posits that non-painful stimuli, like meditation, modulate pain signals in the spinal cord. This statement inaccurately describes the mechanism, as meditation affects neural gating, not chemical changes, making it incorrect.

Choice B reason: Meditation does not stop pain stimuli from occurring; it modulates pain perception. The gate control theory explains how cognitive techniques like meditation reduce pain signal transmission, not eliminate the stimulus. This statement misrepresents the theory’s mechanism, making it an incorrect reflection of understanding.

Choice C reason: Meditation does not open the pain gate or promote sleeping through pain. The gate control theory suggests meditation closes the gate, reducing pain signals. Opening the gate would increase pain perception, contradicting the theory’s principles, making this an incorrect understanding of meditation’s role.

Choice D reason: Meditation controls pain by blocking pain impulses, as per the gate control theory. It activates non-painful stimuli, closing the spinal “gate” to reduce pain signal transmission to the brain. This statement accurately reflects how meditation modulates pain perception, demonstrating correct understanding of the theory.