A nurse is assessing the skin turgor of an older adult client. In which of the following areas should the nurse lift the skin?

Rationale: A. Abdomen: The abdominal skin may be loose due to age-related changes, weight fluctuations, or prior pregnancies, making it less reliable for assessing dehydration in older adults. Lifting skin here may give a false impression of skin turgor. B. Shoulder: Skin over the shoulder can be affected by aging, sun exposure, or decreased subcutaneous tissue, which can distort the assessment of hydration status. It is not the preferred site for older adults. C. Neck: The skin of the neck is thin and may show wrinkles or sagging unrelated to hydration. Assessing turgor here is less accurate in older clients and may overestimate skin elasticity changes due to aging. D. Sternum: The skin over the sternum is relatively less affected by age-related changes and provides a more reliable site for assessing turgor in older adults. Lifting this area allows the nurse to evaluate hydration status more accurately without interference from natural skin laxity elsewhere.