Dehydration: A Hidden Risk to the Elderly

Dehydration: A Hidden Risk to the ElderlyIf dehydration is not identified and treated, the consequences to health are significant, including reduced or even loss of consciousness, rapid but weak pulse, and lowered blood pressure. If rehydration is not started, the situation can become life-threatening.It’s important for caregivers of the elderly to be more aware of ways to prevent dehydration, recognize its signs, and treat it promptly.Sudden shifts in the body’s water balance can frequently result in dehydration, and the physical changes associated with aging expose the elderly, in particular, to the risks of dehydration. The danger is that they may not know about their dehydrated condition, which could lead to more serious consequences.Dehydration: The Causes, The Health RisksDehydration is often due partly to inadequate water intake, but can happen for many other reasons as well, including as a side effect of prescribed medication like diuretics, diarrhea, excessive sweating, loss of blood and diseases such as diabetes. Aging itself makes people less aware of thirst and also gradually lowers the body’s ability to regulate its fluid balance:Elders may not feel thirst as keenly.Scientists warn that the ability to be aware of and respond to thirst is slowly blunted as we age. As a result, older people do not feel thirst as readily as younger people do. This increases the chances of them consuming less water and consequently suffering dehydration.Less body fluids, lower kidney function.The body loses water as we age. Until about age 40, the proportion of total body fluids to body weight is about 60% in men and 52% in women. After age 60, the proportion goes down to 52% in men and 46% in women. The reason for the decline is the loss of muscle mass as one ages and a corresponding increase in fat cells.In addition, the kidneys’ ability to remove toxins from the blood progressively declines with age. This means the kidneys are not as efficient in concentrating urine in less water, thus older people lose more water than younger ones.Dehydration: Staying HydratedEveryone knows—but many people seem to forget—that water is what sustains life.   Caregivers should make sure the older person has water by their side at all times. Encourage frequent drinking in moderate amounts.A good formula for how much water is needed every day is to take one-third of the person’s body weight in pounds and drink the equivalent number of ounces of water daily. For example, a 150-pound woman would need 50 ounces of water daily, or about 6 8-ounce glasses of water.

Other tips to consider:

• If the elder’s current intake is below the required amount, have them increase the amount they drink gradually.
• Encourage your loved one not to wait until thirsty to start drinking water: At that point dehydration has already started.
• One sign of proper hydration is the color of the urine—it should be clear or a pale yellow.
• Alcohol should be avoided. Minimize the number of beverages with caffeine because of its diuretic effect, causing the kidneys to excrete more water.
• When you see early signs of dehydration, offer a sports drink to enable quick replenishment of water and electrolytes needed by the body.
• Severe dehydration requires medical attention; if you see any signs or even just suspect it, call the doctor.

Shared from www.parentgiving.com