Dehydration In Older Adults

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This paper explores three systematic review articles and one literature review article that examine the risks for dehydration in the older adult population and how to best manage increasing fluid intake in this population. Older adults are at an increased risk for dehydration due to poor fluid intake, decreased thirst sensation, and medications that promote fluid loss. Older adults are also at risk due to limited mobility and gait which would make holding a utensil or cup, very challenging to do. Lastly, older adults have a fear of needing to toilet more frequently or struggling with incontinence, which would further limit them from obtaining adequate hydration. Hodgkinson, DipNsg, and Wood (2003) identified the factors that increase the older …show more content…
Water is a key nutrient needed to sustain life. Water comprises 55% to 65% of body mass. With normal aging, there is a decline in total body water, in both the extracellular and the intracellular fluid volume. This decline in total body water and the changes in water regulation with aging leads to the older adult becoming more vulnerable to heat stress. In older adults, heat exposure and exercise are associated with a decline in thirst sensation. Decreased thirst sensation accompanied by poor fluid intake in the older adult leads to the development of high serum osmolality in response to the decline in fluid. Changes in renal function also contribute to most of the age related events. Aging is associated with a decline in glomerular filtration rate and the kidneys ability to concentrate fluids. These normal physiological changes that take place with aging place the older adult at higher risk for …show more content…
(2015) "There is evidence that water-loss dehydration is common in older people and associated with many causes of morbidity and mortality". Dehydration is defined as the loss of body water, with or without salt, at a rate greater than the body can replace it (Thomas et al., 2008, p.) The older adult population often present to inpatient settings with delirium or confusion diagnoses that can impair their cognitive and or physiological function. According to Thomas et al. (2008)"It is well accepted that dehydration commonly precipitates delirium" (p. 298). Thomas et al. (2008) described "The prevalence of dehydration in frail older people varies by setting and level of care required, as well as how hydration status is assessed
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