Maintaining adequate fluid balance is an essential component of health in every stage of life is still more difficult as we get older and more vulnerable to changes in water balance, which can result in dehydration.

Why is hydration important?

In older adults, adequate fluid intake has been falling, with less consumption, less congestion, better recoveries are associated with orthopedic patients, the reduction of bladder cancer in men and lower rates of fatal heart disease.

Dehydration can cause constipation, falls, adverse effects of medications, urinary tract and respiratory infections, delirium, kidney failure, seizures, hypo-and hyperthermia. In older adults can be with other health problems, it is emergency or repeated hospital admissions and mortality in older adults.

Who’s At Risk?

• age and ethnicity. From 1990 to 2000, hospitalizations increased up to dry in the older adult by 40 percent. Adults aged 85 years and older were three times more frequently a diagnosis of dehydration than younger adults. Among older adults, hydration, physical or mental illness, Operation, trauma or physiological higher requirements may still increase the risk obtained. Older black adults have a higher prevalence of dehydration at the time of hospitalization than older white adults.

• Some psychiatric drugs can cause dry mouth, constipation or urinary retention that hydration status may worsen.

• A person can be the degree of physical dependence and cognitive impairment mean that drinking is not a person in a position or to forget.

• nursing homes. According to an article in the June issue of American Journal of Nursing, nursing home residents have habits, they could put them in danger, as those who do not “drink” Due to concerns about controlling their urine or memory problems that cause them to forget drink.

“If nurses have no responsibility for older adults maintain adequate hydration, we have not seriously,” said Diana Mason, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Nursing. “For older adults, it is necessary, consistent fluid intake during the day, mainly because they do not consume large amounts of fluid at once.”

As in a study by Janet Mentes, PhD, APRN, BC, assistant professor at the University of California Los Angeles School of Nursing conducted reported the following tips should be practiced to prevent dehydration:

• identify and treat correctable causes of dehydration as cause vomiting and diarrhea.

• Observe the color of urine: Dark, concentrated urine may be a sign of dehydration.

• provision of glasses and cups, not too big or difficult to handle and have stalks under the bed.

• During hot weather, especially excessive attention to replace lost fluid.

• If you have an older family member or friend in a hospital, nursing home or other institution, make sure that water is within reach.

For older adults, it is necessary, consistent fluid intake during the day, mainly because they do not consume large amounts of fluid at once.