Dehydration in Seniors

Symptoms of Dehydration in Seniors

Dehydration can negatively affect people of all ages, but seniors and children are particularly at risk. Research has shown that adults 65 and older have the highest rates of hospital admission for dehydration. Mild to moderate dehydration is fairly common, especially during warm weather, and can generally be reversed by increasing your intake of fluids throughout the day, but severe dehydration must be treated immediately.

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration occurs when you use, or lose, more fluid than you take in; and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don’t replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. Sometimes excessive sweating can lead to a dip in water content in the body. Extreme physical activity in hot weather signals the body to produce more sweat in order to keep it cool but it also can cause dehydration if water is not replenished.

Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may have conditions or take medications that increase their risk of dehydration. This means that even minor illnesses, such as infections affecting the lungs or bladder, can result in dehydration in older adults.

Three facts to remember about Dehydration

• Dehydration occurs when the body loses too much fluid.
• Fluid can be lost through illness, sweating or exercise; and the risk for dehydration is higher in summer months.
• Dehydration can cause muscle cramping.

The importance of hydration for seniors

Hydration in the elderly is important for numerous health reasons. Seniors who are dehydrated suffer from complications, like loss of balance, constipation, kidney issues and electrolyte imbalance. Severe dehydration is life-threatening, as fluids are no longer available to carry blood to the organs.

Seniors have a high-risk factor for dehydration due to the natural effects of ageing. Older adults have a weaker thirst response, so they do not realize they need to drink fluids. Aging people have decreased kidney function, which causes more water to be eliminated through urination.

Ageing people tend to have fewer water reserves, which simply means that the body contains less fluids. Sufficient water reserves are necessary for everyday bodily functions. Seniors may also have health conditions or take medications that lead to increased water loss through urination.

Ensuring daily hydration in seniors is critical to overall health. Aging adults who drink the recommended amounts of water throughout the day are better able to maintain blood pressure, eliminate waste, help their bodies digest food, and regulate bodily temperatures through sweating.

How to stay hydrated, and what symptoms to look out for