subject: Hydration For Elderly People [print this page] Hydration is vital to those who want to stay healthy for as long as possible.
With age, the body loses its ability to detect thirst. Therefore, to stay sufficiently hydrated, elderly people should anticipate the body's needs and not always wait until they are thirsty to have a drink. To prevent dehydration, it may be best to drink on a regular basis. Ideally, elderly people should get into the habit of drinking one or two glasses of beverage with each meal and drink occasionally during the day when they aren't eating.
Usually people drink when they are thirsty, and simply relying on the thirst signal will normally ensure that they drink enough to stay well hydrated. But by the age of 60, if people only drink when they are thirsty, they may not get as much water as they need. The problem continues to get worse as they get older.
Dehydration can cause serious problems in older adults. Elderly people are at greatest risk of dehydration and its potentially life-threatening consequences. People aged between 85-99 years are six times more likely to be hospitalized for dehydration than those aged 65-69 years. Mild dehydration may also cause conditions such as constipation.
As dehydration progresses, the volume of water in the blood stream decreases, and blood pressure may fall. Cardiovascular function is impaired with increasing levels of dehydration, with a rise in heart rate and difficulties in maintaining the volume of blood that the heart delivers to the tissues. The heart pumps harder to maintain blood flow to the organs, but blood pressure may fall as the blood volume falls. Reduced blood flow to the skin and reduced levels of hydration keep the body from sweating and dissipating heat.
Chronic dehydration can increase the risk of infection, particularly of the urinary tract. The kidneys and other major organs that receive a decreased blood flow may begin to fail. Kidney failure is a common occurrence, although it is reversible if it is due to dehydration and is treated early. Decreased blood supply to the brain may cause confusion, impairing both cognitive function and coordination.
