Most people don’t think about dehydration; let alone elderly dehydration. It is a common problem, in the aging, and often recognition along with treatment may be delayed; contributing to a high mortality rate. (Lavizzo-Mourey, 1987) By recognizing a potential problem early, you may save an older adult from a debilitating complication. (Hamilton, 2001) The prevention of elderly dehydration will deter illness and increases life expectancy, along with decreasing unnecessary hospitalization and cost.
There are several causes to elderly dehydration, which can be broken down into four groups: physiological factors, psychological factors, functional impairments, and mechanical impairments. (Hamilton, 2001) The physiological factors are: natural 10% body fluid loss, diminish of taste making food less appetizing and adding salt for flavor, thirst diminishes, medications that are diuretics or laxatives, and draining wounds. (Hamilton 2001) The caffeine in coffee and soda, the theophylline in tea, and the throbromine in cocoa, all raise blood pressure along with increase production and elimination of urine. (Vasey, 2002) Alcohol, on the other hand, dries out the mucous membrane causing sclerosis. (Vasey, 2002) Diarrhea, vomiting, or febrile illness also contributes to elderly dehydration. (Moore, 2005) The psychological factors are: depression which contributes to loss of appetite, purposefully decrease fluid to reduce bathroom trips. (Hamilton, 2001) The functional impairments are: coma, paralysis and N.P.O (Nothing Per Orem) patients. (Hamilton, 2001) Elderly individuals with disabilities such as: visual, cognitive or motor impairment may need assists with water intake. (Kavanaugh, 2000) Tubal feeding may need additional water in the nutr...
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6) Lavizzo-Mourey, Risa. (1987). Dehydration in the elderly: a short review. Journal of the National Medical Association, 79(10), Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2625510/pdf/jnma00925-0023.pdf
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Vital to maintenance of homeostasis is the regulation of plasma osmolality. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system, which works to regulate blood pressure, plays a crucial role in fluid balance. When dehydration occurs, blood osmolality increases, which stimulates the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), ultimately leading to increased water reabsorption. This leads to more concentrated urine, and less concentrated plasma. Low plasma osmolality works in the opposite fashion: ADH release is inhibited, water reabsorption decreases, and urine is less concentrated. The added electrolytes and carbohydrates in Gatorade would facilitate greater fluid retention through stimulation of renin and vasopressin, increasing urinary sodium reabsorption (3). Studies of both urine volume and plasma volume changes are eff...
Touhy, T. A., Jett, K. F., Boscart, V., & McCleary, L. (october 2011). Ebersole and Hess Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging (1st canadian edition ed.). Retrieved from
Jacobsen, L. A., Kent, M., Lee, M., & Mather, M. (2001). America's aging population. Population Bulletin, 66(1).
Medcohealth. Women and Aging: Our lives due change (2002). Retrieved November 18, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.medcohealth.com
To deal with the issue of an aging population, an awareness campaign about the health issues that commonly affect aged people should be run by the government and non-governmental agencies. In addition, awareness should be created among the young to accommodate the elderly; at home as well as at work places...
The older tradition of “taking the waters” dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, a time when baths were regularly used by citizens and hygiene was held in high regard. The belief that water had many natural benefits for the body, mind, and soul was not a new one. Taking the waters had a long history in European medicine and water was viewed as having healing qualities for numerous conditions. The resurgence in the idea of water having a wide range of healing powers came from a man named Vincent Priessnitz, who lived 1799-1851. Priessnitz is thought to be the first to create the blueprints for water therapy, which he named hydropathy. Once opening a hydropathic institution people traveled from all around the world for its supposed healing abilities and not long after this practice of water therapy became known around the world. Soon enough similar institutions focusing on water therapy began to open around Europe and spread to America. Hydropathy attracting a wide range of people in all classes of society. This practice was not only attracting ordinary citizens but also those from the higher classes of European and American society.
The World Health Organization defines domestic water as being “water used for all usual domestic purposes including consumption, bathing and food preparation” (World Health Organization, 2003). Ample supplies of clean domestic water are essential for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and various amenities. Most importantly, water is critical to human life as it supports the digestion of food, absorption, transportation and use of nutrients and the elimination of toxins and wastes from the body (Kleiner,1999). In the United States, the average male should consume a minimum 2.9 liters or water per day while the average female should consume 2.2 liters (New York Times, 2009). Inadequate water intake can lead to dehydration and other health issues. Studies have correlated inadequate water intake with coronary heart disease, and complications associated with childbearing. Other studies have indicated decreased risks of colonic and breast cancer with increased fluid intake (1999).
It is a fact; the older adult population is living longer. While many older adults are fit and healthy, others are frail and weak requiring necessary medication. It is more important than ever for all of the healthcare community to be conscious of safe prescribing and the proper use of medicine when taking care of older adults.
Lyons, Dan. "Don't Lower Drinking Age." Human Events 64.42 (2008): 18. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2010.
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Kick, Ella. "Overview: Health Care and the Aging Population: What Are Today's Challenges?" The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web.
Sutin, D.G., and S. Rougas. “Are the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders Quality Indicators for Hypertension Wrong?... Jam Geriatr Soc. 2007 Oct; 55 Suppl 2:S359-65.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 56.6 (2008): 1163-1164. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
As the kidneys regulate the quantity of fluid which leaves the body, patients who suffer from kidney disease progression, may be not be able to regularize fluid removal from their body. Due to this scenario, their physician or specialist may ask them to reduce their intake of fluid. Lowering daily fluid intake for the renal diet involves: not drinking to socialize or from habit, only having a drink when thirsty, and sucking on a wedge of lemon or chips of ice. It also entails taking measures for monitoring the quantity of fluid that is drunk. This is done by measuring a regularly used glass or cup to measure the quantity of fluid it holds, as well as placing the recommended daily quantity of water into a specific container, and then only taking the fluid that is consumed from this. This insures that the recommended amount is not exceeded (Medical
Rationale: Early signs of dehydration include thirst and cessation of perspiration, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, and orthostatic hypotension. Ackley and Ladwig p. 345
Water is an essential nutrient that our body requires every day. Without water human life cannot be sustained. Water deprivation kills faster than lack of any other nutrient. People do not think of water as a nutrient and don’t realize the important role of water in the body functions.