A nurse is caring for clients who have dementia and are living in a nursing home. Which of the ...

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Balking, which means refusing to do things, often occurs when clients do not understand what is expected. If a client balks, the nurse should go away briefly, and come back later with a pleasant tone of voice. Persons with dementias commonly display catastrophic reactions in which they become overly agitated when confronted with situations that are too overwhelming or difficult for them. The best approach when this occurs is to cease the activity and allow quiet time or time out. The nurse should keep the environment calm and predictable for a person with paranoia and remove excess stimulation or items that can contribute to misperceptions (e.g., mirrors, intercoms, lamps that cast shadows). If a client strikes out aggressively, the nurse should leave temporarily, allow the client time to calm down, and then return.