For an older patient with a chronic disease, which action is a tertiary intervention to slow progression?

For an older patient with a chronic disease, which action is a tertiary intervention to slow progression?

• A. Assess the client's mobility
• B. Integrate physical therapy
• C. Discuss injury-prevention measures within the home
• D. Obtain a referral for occupational therapy

Answer: (B)

Tertiary prevention focuses on slowing the progression and preventing complications of an established chronic disease. Integrating physical therapy provides targeted rehab—improving strength, endurance, balance, and gait—so the patient maintains function longer and avoids further decline. This directly tackles the disease’s impact on daily life, which is the essence of slowing progression. Assessing mobility, discussing home safety, and referring for occupational therapy are important supportive care actions, but they don’t directly drive the ongoing functional improvement and deterioration slowing that physical therapy delivers through structured exercise and movement retraining.

Tertiary prevention focuses on slowing the progression and preventing complications of an established chronic disease. Integrating physical therapy provides targeted rehab—improving strength, endurance, balance, and gait—so the patient maintains function longer and avoids further decline. This directly tackles the disease’s impact on daily life, which is the essence of slowing progression.

Assessing mobility, discussing home safety, and referring for occupational therapy are important supportive care actions, but they don’t directly drive the ongoing functional improvement and deterioration slowing that physical therapy delivers through structured exercise and movement retraining.