The nurse planning care for an older adult who has recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis views the priority criterion for continued Independence to be the patients:

A. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) impairs blood flow to the extremities, which can affect the body's ability to regulate temperature, heal wounds, and manage cardiovascular function. Despite having regular home health care, which helps with monitoring and managing the condition, PVD still poses challenges to maintaining homeostasis.
B. Chronic bronchitis is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that impairs lung function and impacts the body's ability to exchange gases efficiently. This condition can lead to chronic hypoxemia (low oxygen levels) and hypercapnia (elevated carbon dioxide levels), which directly affect homeostasis.
C. This individual is undergoing significant life changes, including bereavement and relocation, which can affect emotional and physiological well-being. While these stressors can impact overall health, they are less directly related to physiological processes that maintain homeostasis compared to chronic physical conditions.
D. Alzheimer’s disease leads to significant cognitive decline, which impairs the ability to perform daily activities and manage personal health. This cognitive impairment can result in a reduced ability to recognize and respond to physiological needs, which compromises homeostatic mechanisms. The need for assistance with all ADLs indicates severe functional impairment, making this patient highly vulnerable to disruptions in homeostasis due to their inability to self-manage health and daily activities effectively.

A. This activity involves assessing individuals for high blood pressure, which is a common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Blood pressure screening is a classic example of secondary prevention because it aims to detect hypertension early so that it can be managed before complications, such as heart disease or stroke, develop. This activity is appropriate for secondary prevention as it helps identify those with undiagnosed hypertension and provides an opportunity for early intervention.
B. Fitting glasses addresses a specific need related to vision but does not primarily focus on early detection or intervention for diseases. It falls more under the category of tertiary prevention, which aims to manage existing conditions and prevent further complications or disabilities. While improving vision is beneficial, this activity does not primarily fit the secondary prevention model of detecting disease early in asymptomatic individuals.
C. This activity is an example of primary prevention, not secondary prevention. Primary prevention aims to prevent diseases before they occur, such as through vaccination to prevent influenza. Although flu vaccines are important for public health, they do not fit the secondary prevention model, which is concerned with early detection and intervention for existing or developing health issues.
D. This activity is also an example of primary prevention. Teaching about sun exposure risks aims to prevent skin cancer by promoting behaviors that reduce the risk of developing the disease. It focuses on educating people to avoid sunburns and protect their skin to prevent skin cancer from developing in the first place. Thus, it does not fit the secondary prevention model.