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Dehydration in Seniors: Risks, Warning Signs, and Prevention Tips

 

Are you aware of the risks and consequences of dehydration in seniors and how serious these risks are? Luckily, there is good news: dehydration can be easily avoided. Awareness is the first step in preventing any health issues related to dehydration-- the most common being the lack of fluids.

 

What Is Dehydration?

This condition is simple: it is a direct result of not indulging in enough water. Water is the source of life, as extreme as that sounds. Water Is necessary for your body to perform its day to day tasks, such as: 

  • Temperature regulation
  • Waste elimination
  • Joint lubrication
  • Delivery of nutrients to cells
  • Blood oxygen circulation
  • Skin hydration
  • Cognitive function

 

When you don't drink enough fluids, your body is directly impacted, plain and simple. However, your body is designed to adjust your fluid levels throughout the day-- with the most common feeling of thirst. As your body fluid levels drop, your hypothalamus sends alerts to your brain to let you know that it is time to take a drink of water. Another common reaction is when your kidneys preserve water, creating more concentrated urine. 

 

It can be challenging to gauge the amount of water and fluids needed to avoid dehydration. This stems mainly from the fact that your body constantly loses water through sweat, urination, and other bodily functions. When your body loses water, it is also losing electrolytes and salt. If you are unsure of what electrolytes are and what they do, they are charged nutrients essential for regular heartbeats, muscle contractions, and more. When you lose too much of your electrolytes, you can be hit with severe health consequences.

 

Why Dehydration Is More Common Among Seniors

Tracking your fluid and electrolyte levels can be a complex process, especially for seniors. Seniors must be aware of how easy it is for them to be inflicted by this condition, as well as it is essential to know the severe side effects. 

 

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences shared that dehydration is one of the top 10 reasons that seniors become hospitalized. When adults are hospitalized for dehydration, they more than likely end up in intensive care units. These adults are also more likely to end up readmitted or placed in long-term care facilities. 

 

The link between age and dehydration is that you are more susceptible to dehydration due to health or lifestyle conditions as you age. The most common factors are: 

  1. Age-related physical changes: With age, our bodies cannot hold as much water-- this is most commonly because our kidneys become less efficient. Other risks come from seniors drinking less than younger adults because older adults have a weakened sense of thirst. There is no clear scientific reason for this, but it is genuinely a troublesome symptom of age. The reduced sense of thirst is most common for those that live with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, as well as those who have suffered from a stroke. These elderly adults may have a hard time swallowing or asking caregivers for help.
  2. Medication side effects: Older adults take many common medicines that can act as diuretics (i.e., increase urine production) and lead to dehydration. All side effects of medicine should be discussed with a doctor before taking. 
  3. Incontinence issues: The risk of dehydration when associated with incontinence is directly caused by the fluid lost during involuntary urination. Dehydration happens when seniors begin to limit their fluid intake to avoid any uncomfortable situations. It is important to let our loved ones know that reducing their fluid intake is not directly correlated to incontinence. The National Association for Continence shared that drinking more water can help fight off incontinence for some seniors. Staying hydrated also keeps your bladder from being vulnerable to bacterial infections-- reducing the risk of UTIs.
  4. Fear of falling: It is common for seniors to drink fewer fluids due to the fear of falling if they need to use the restroom in the middle of the night--these seniors are not considering that they are putting themselves at risk for dehydration when doing this. A way to avoid late-night restroom trips while also drinking fluids is to restrict fluid intake a few hours before bedtime. A healthcare provider can assist in figuring out if this works best for you. 
  5. Living conditions: Elder adults living in nursing homes are likely to become dehydrated because they depend on staff members to assist with their water intake. Seniors who are physically incapable of getting fluids themselves are at the highest risk of dehydration. This is mainly because they typically suffer from a cognitive health issue that makes them forget to get fluids. Using Visiting Angels at-home care is a better option for your loved one; allowing one-on-one time with your loved one and our caregiver ensures special attention.
  6. Medical issues: Most seniors suffer from medical conditions that have been shown to lead to dehydration. The most common examples of this are diarrhea, fever, and diabetes.

Signs of Dehydration in Elderly People

The signs of dehydration are essential to know and recognize. The condition's side effects can set in fast and leave lingering after-effects. The early characters to keep an eye out for in seniors are:

  • Cracked lips
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry skin, particularly in the armpits
  • Less frequent urination than normal

 

More severe effects of dehydration in the elderly are:

  • Dark-colored urine (instead of what it should be: the color of a pale straw)
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Dizziness
  • Increased heart rate
  • Muscle cramps
  • Crying without tears
  • Confusion
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Fainting

 

It is important to note that seniors don't always show crystal clear signs of dehydration. Examples of this are:

  • Some medicines can affect the color of urine
  • Dehydration can cause hallucinations
  • Cognitive changes can happen due to dementia or medications. 

 

You may not know how to identify and treat dehydration in your senior correctly. The best way to treat it is with a glass of water. Wait up to 15 minutes to see if symptoms go away. If they do not subside, then you need to go to the ER immediately. Doctors can run blood tests to check fluid and electrolyte levels (Urine tests aren't always reliable for seniors).

 

Treating Dehydration: What to Do

If you are unsure of how to respond to a senior that is dehydrated, you can follow these three steps:

  • Drink a glass of water and wait for 10-15 to evaluate symptoms
  • Go to the ER and have an assessment done to see the level of the condition. This usually involves an intravenous (IV) treatment.
  • Have detailed and close monitoring at the hospital.

 

This condition's recovery treatment and period are based on a case-to-case situation, primarily on the individual's overall health. The recovery can be much quicker if the response timing is prompt. 

 

How to Prevent Dehydration in Elderly Adults

There are ways to avoid dehydration in seniors. The most effective way is to drink water regularly. The saying that you should drink eight glasses of water a day is now generally avoided by most medical professionals. The amount of water you drink should be considered alongside your lifestyle—other factors include medications you take, body weight, and activity level.

 

 

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shared other easy ways to get in your daily fluids without leading to too much urine production. The best alternatives were milk, orange juice, and commercially prepared electrolyte replacement drinks. The best electrolyte replacement drink is Pedialyte-- it's not just for infants. 

Consequences of Dehydration in Seniors

Most people experience dehydration at some capacity at some point in their life, regardless of age. Mild dehydration side effects can look like: 

  • Fatigue
  • Memory problems
  • Poor concentration
  • Irritability
  • Headache

Long term side effects can include one or more of the following: 

  • Low blood pressure
  • Dizziness
  • Skin problems, including pressure sores
  • Constipation
  • Kidney problems, including kidney stones
  • Increased risk of urinary tract infections

Extreme dehydration is the result of it being left untreated. The most severe dangers/side effects include: 

  • Seizures
  • Shock
  • Kidney failure
  • Heat exhaustion or heat stroke

Individuals can last no more than three days without-- all depending truly on their overall health. The general rule of thumb is that once you have lost more than 10% of your body weight through fluids, it becomes a medical emergency, leading to death.

 

Knowledge Is Prevention

The best way to get ahead of dehydration is to drink fluids and educate yourself on the risks, side effects, and how to treat it. Visting Angels Murrieta will keep a close eye on your seniors, keeping tabs on any signs they may be showing. 

 

When you're ready, reach out to Visiting Angels Murrieta for further details about dehydration in your loved one. 

 

Serving Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Hemet, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels MURRIETA, CA
25096 Jefferson Ave Suite B212
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: 951-639-5949
Fax: 951-639-3664
HCO #334700056

Serving Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Hemet, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels MURRIETA, CA
25096 Jefferson Ave Suite B212
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: 951-639-5949
Fax: 951-639-3664
HCO #334700056