A nurse is developing health promotion strategies for older adult clients at an assisted living facility. Which of the following strategies is the priority for the nurse to include?

A.While insurance coverage is important, it is not a criterion for qualifying for hospice care. Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to terminally ill patients, regardless of insurance coverage.

B.Hospice care can be provided in various settings, including the home, hospice facilities, or inpatient units. The need for inpatient care due to a lack of a caregiver is not a criterion for hospice eligibility; rather, hospice focuses on the terminal nature of the illness.

C.Hospice careis a service for people with serious illnesses who choose not to get (or continue) treatment to cure or control their illness. People may choose to enroll in hospice care if the treatment is unlikely to be effective or if continuing it has become too burdensome.

D.Choice D states that the client has documentation stating they have less than 12 months to live. However, for hospice care eligibility, the standard criterion is a life expectancy ofsix months or less, as certified by a physician. This is a key distinction, as hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support during the final months of life, rather than extending life expectancy.

When caring for a client with terminal cancer who expresses a desire to discontinue enteral tube feedings, the nurse's priority is to ensure that the client's wishes are respected and appropriate steps are taken. The most suitable action is:

c) Explain the process for completing a living will.

A living will is a legal document that outlines a person's preferences regarding medical treatment in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes. In this situation, the client can express their desire to forgo enteral tube feedings through a living will, ensuring that their wishes are documented and legally recognized.

The other options may not be as appropriate:

a) Request the facility chaplain to visit the client:While spiritual and emotional support is important, the immediate concern is ensuring the client's autonomy in decision-making regarding medical interventions.

b) Ask the client to sign an informed consent form:Informed consent typically pertains to specific medical procedures, and discontinuing enteral tube feedings is more aligned with the broader context of advance care planning.

d) Complete an against medical advice form:This form is typically used when a patient refuses a recommended treatment against the medical team's advice. However, in this case, the client is expressing their own treatment preferences, and the focus should be on facilitating advance care planning and documentation.