Signs And Symptoms Of Dehydration In The Elderly

Dehydration can be devastating to the human body if not recognized early enough and dealt with. It occurs fairly often in elderly people because they are not always able to keep track of their fluid intake each day. In addition to the low level of fluid intake, sometimes certain medications can bring about dehydration as well. If dehydration progresses to a severe level, death is a possibility.

What Causes Dehydration?
There are a number of factors that can contribute to dehydration in senior adults. These include:

1) illness
2) decreased sense of thirst
3) medications
4) decreased kidney function
5) immobility
6) heat
7) diarrhea
8) vomiting
9) diabetes

The body of an elderly person does not function the same way that a younger person's body does, so they do not have the same thought processes as younger people. If they get sick, they may not realize that being sick drains their body of fluids that need to be replaced. They may not feel thirsty, so they don't drink anything. Many senior adults take medication that can deplete their bodies of fluid. If they have difficulty walking, they may not want to drink much so that they won't have to worry about getting to the bathroom. Getting too hot can drain their bodies of fluid more than they realize. Dehydration is more likely to happen if they already have diabetes.

Caregivers for senior adults can help quickly change the course of their health if they look for the following signs on a regular basis:

1) unusual thirst
2) weakness
3) little or no urination
4) dizziness
5) fever
6) dry mouth and tongue
7) red glow to the face
8) no tears when crying
9) urinary tract infections
10) irritability
11) lethargy
12) leg or arm cramping
13) constipation
14) dry, warm skin

For elderly people exhibiting any of these symptoms, treatment could include drinking lots of fluids such as Gatorade or Pedialyte and eating foods that contain potassium and sodium such as soup and soft fruit.

If symptoms of elderly dehydration in its early stages are overlooked, older adults can begin to exhibit symptoms such as:

1) fainting or unconsciousness
2) no urination
3) low blood pressure
4) confusion
5) increased lethargy
6) convulsions
7) irritability
8) accelerated, faint pulse
9) rapid breathing
10) cool, moist extremities
11) swollen stomach
12) heart failure

People who reach this level of dehydration obviously need hospital treatment to get their bodies rehydrated. Not having enough fluid in the body can lead to so many other health problems.

Even though every person may not need the same amount of fluid to keep his or her body hydrated, caregivers should always pay close attention to the senior adults under their care. The important thing about dehydration is to catch it in its early stages. Some experts suggest weighing elderly people on a daily basis to determine whether dehydration is beginning to occur. If they lose as little as two pounds in one day, caregivers should check them for other symptoms of dehydration.

One of the most obvious answers to prevent dehydration of course is to provide them with enough to drink during the day and make sure that they drink it. If they are not satisfied drinking a lot of water, caregivers can offer them fruit juice or small amounts of coffee and tea to help maintain hydration. For elderly people who have difficulty walking, caregivers can provide them with a proper supply of fluids at their bedside or wherever they may be so they won't have to get up to get a drink when they need it. Finding them an alternative to walking to the bathroom can help also.

In addition to making sure that elderly people get enough to drink, their caregivers should provide them with food that contains a large amount of water such as apples, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, watermelon and soup. Some seniors don't have much of an appetite, so they just don't eat. These types of foods will give them nutrition and the hydration that their bodies need as well.

What it ultimately comes down to is that caregivers of senior adults must first be aware of the symptoms of dehydration then pay enough attention so that the signs of dehydration will be recognized as early as possible. It is always best to consult with a physician when dehydration is suspected in an elderly person, no matter what stage of dehydration they may be in.