Dehydration of Older Patients in Institutional Care and the Home Environment

Dehydration in older adults is a common and significant clinical problem. It is associated with more comorbidities, longer hospital stays, re-hospitalizations, and higher mortality rates (Fortes et al., 2015). Adverse health outcomes associated with dehydration in older patients include falls, fractures, heart disease, confusion, delirium, heat stress, constipation, kidney failure, pressure ulcers, poor wound healing, suboptimal rehabilitation outcomes, infections, seizures, drug toxicity, and reduced quality of life (Chan, Knutsen, Blix, Lee,& Fraser, 2002). Decreased thirst response,

Source: Research in gerontological nursing - November 22, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Amadeus Le šnik, PhD, RN Source Type: research