Solved

A 74-Year-Old Man Comes to the Office Due to Memory

question 242

Multiple Choice

A 74-year-old man comes to the office due to memory problems over the past several months. He is accompanied by his wife. The patient says, "I am worried about my memory. I feel like I am losing my mind. I can't remember what I've read in the newspaper, and I even have difficulty following the plot on TV shows." His wife says, "He frequently misplaces things like his keys and wallet and can't recall names of individuals he should know. She adds, "He used to like to cook and watch TV, but he doesn't seem to enjoy these things anymore. When he attempted to make a favorite dish recently, he left out half the ingredients and burned the meal." Over the past 2 months, the patient has been involved in 2 minor car accidents in which he was "not paying attention." He recently told his wife that they are "ruined and going bankrupt," despite her multiple assurances that this is not so. She says, "I show him the bank statements, but a few days later, it's as if he doesn't remember and he asks to see them again." They went through a difficult time over the past year due to his suspicions that she had an affair, which were recently confirmed. The patient's medical history is significant for gastroesophageal reflux disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension. He has increased soreness and pain in his joints and neck that he attributes to "my body breaking down." The patient has a history of thyroid cancer that was successfully treated 15 years earlier. His medications include lisinopril, levothyroxine, hydrochlorothiazide, aspirin, and antacids. Physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory studies, including vitamin B₁₂ and thyroid function, are normal.
Which of the following is the best response to this patient's concerns?

Identify the financial and social pressures faced by seniors.

Define and differentiate between elder care, home care, and long-term care.

Comprehend the legal and ethical discussions around euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in Canada.

Recognize the challenges associated with retirement, including voluntary and involuntary retirement.

Definitions:

Empathy Capacity

The ability of an individual to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Attributional Style

The way in which one is disposed toward interpreting outcomes (successes or failures), as in tending to place blame or responsibility on oneself or on external factors.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by irrational fear of weight gain, distorted body image, and severe weight loss.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating and purging as a means of controlling weight gain.