A 79-year-old widowed client says she is overwhelmed with cooking, has lost weight, and has burned herself; she wonders how to manage. Which initial nursing statement should the nurse make?

• A. I'm sure it's hard to learn to cook at your age.
• B. Seems as if you feel lost without your wife and maybe a bit ignored by your children.
• C. Let's focus on getting you to cook meals quickly.
• D. Frying bacon is dangerous; take it easy.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is using therapeutic communication that validates the patient’s feelings and explores her social support. In this situation, reflecting her emotions by saying she seems to feel lost without her wife and perhaps ignored by her children shows empathy, invites her to share what’s most distressing, and helps you assess resources and coping needs. This approach builds trust and opens the door to practical help, like arranging meal support, social services, or home health if needed. The other options miss this empathetic, patient-centered start: one isn’t respectful or encouraging, another pushes quickly to a task without addressing emotional barriers, and the last scolds safety without inviting discussion.