Empowering carers to combat dehydration in older adults

Good hydration and nutrition are essential for maintaining optimum health and wellbeing, preventing illness, and improving recovery after illness. In social and health care settings, it is increasingly important to shine a spotlight on the fundamental need to ensure that older adults in care are adequately hydrated and are given access to the required nutrients and minerals that contribute towards a healthy and fulfilling life. 

It is common knowledge that people become more at risk of dehydration as they age; as the body goes through the normal process of ageing, its sense of thirst diminishes. So, it is essential that care providers recognise the signs of dehydration and ensure that residents are kept hydrated. For example, older adults can sometimes be physically frail, with reduced mobility and activity, making getting a drink and using the toilet more challenging. Due to this, they might avoid drinking enough liquids to maintain the right fluid balance, preventing the need to go to the bathroom later. Additionally, those with poor memory, cognitive impairments, or mental health conditions, may need to be reminded to keep hydrated.

Older adults are more likely to end up in hospital if they become dehydrated, and dehydration can be linked to an increased risk of mortality. Even mild dehydration can adversely affect mental performance and contribute to fatigue, with cognitive functions such as memory, reaction time, attention, and concentration affected. Additionally, dehydration can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, weakness, and an increased risk of falls.