What is considered a high risk factor for accidental poisoning in elderly clients?

What is considered a high risk factor for accidental poisoning in elderly clients?

• A. Poor eyesight
• B. High mobility
• C. Strong medication adherence
• D. Low alcohol consumption

Answer: (A)

Poor eyesight is recognized as a high-risk factor for accidental poisoning in elderly clients due to the challenges it presents in reading labels, identifying medications, and recognizing harmful substances. Elderly individuals with visual impairments may not accurately distinguish between different pills or may misread dosage instructions, increasing the chance of accidental ingestion of the wrong medication or an incorrect dose. This population is often already on multiple medications, and difficulties with eyesight can compound the risk of medication errors. High mobility does not relate directly to poisoning risk as it may indicate a person’s capability to navigate their environment. Strong medication adherence suggests that the individual is following their medication regimen correctly, which typically reduces the risk of accidental poisoning. Low alcohol consumption indicates a lower likelihood of alcohol-related poisoning. Therefore, these options do not present the same level of risk for accidental poisoning as poor eyesight does.

Poor eyesight is recognized as a high-risk factor for accidental poisoning in elderly clients due to the challenges it presents in reading labels, identifying medications, and recognizing harmful substances. Elderly individuals with visual impairments may not accurately distinguish between different pills or may misread dosage instructions, increasing the chance of accidental ingestion of the wrong medication or an incorrect dose. This population is often already on multiple medications, and difficulties with eyesight can compound the risk of medication errors.

High mobility does not relate directly to poisoning risk as it may indicate a person’s capability to navigate their environment. Strong medication adherence suggests that the individual is following their medication regimen correctly, which typically reduces the risk of accidental poisoning. Low alcohol consumption indicates a lower likelihood of alcohol-related poisoning. Therefore, these options do not present the same level of risk for accidental poisoning as poor eyesight does.