NCLEX · Aging and Older Adults

What is a general health-promotion principle for supporting older adults' safety at home?

Correct answer

Promote a safe environment by reducing fall hazards (such as good lighting and clear walkways) and supporting the client's independence

  1. A Discourage all physical activity
  2. B Remove all support and assistance
  3. C Encourage clutter to keep items handy
  4. D Promote a safe environment by reducing fall hazards (such as good lighting and clear walkways) and supporting the client's independence

Why this is the answer

A general health-promotion principle for older adults is to promote a safe home environment while supporting independence — for example, reducing fall hazards through adequate lighting, clear walkways, and removing tripping hazards, and encouraging appropriate activity. Falls are a significant safety concern for older adults, so reducing hazards is important, but the goal is to support, not eliminate, the client's independence and activity. Encouraging clutter or discouraging all activity would be counterproductive. Understanding general home-safety and fall-prevention principles for older adults is standard content. (Verify specifics against current NCLEX prep materials.)
Source: NCLEX-PN Health Promotion — Older Adult Home Safety

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About this topic: Aging and Older Adults

Aging and older-adult questions cover normal changes of aging versus disease, fall and injury prevention, polypharmacy, and promoting independence and safety in older clients. This is one of 8 PN: Health Promotion and Maintenance questions on aging and older adults, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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