Getting enough hydration through drinking water can be tough for those in the hydration gap, which are usually nursing home residents who have wounds, infections, or are prone to weight loss/malnutrition or other health risks. However, getting even 5% less water can lead to the dehydration cascade that creates mood changes, high levels of fatigue, and cognition issues from water leaving vital organs like the brain. This can further lead to reduced societal participation or less interest in personal care that creates greater health risk factors.
Dehydration in nursing homes has a significant effect as they affect the patients in the hydration gap the most and makes them more prone to injury that will need emergency care at hospitals, possibly increasing their risk of getting other health problems. Those who also take medications or have specific blood conditions can experience even worse effects of dehydration. It is important to be aware when a loved one or a patient experiences cognitive decline, salt loss, declining thirst signals, and issues flushing out urine without large amounts of water as these are signs of dehydration.
Veteran clinicians are working to create science-backed solutions to the dehydration problem. One of them is micronutrient supplementation, which provides the body with the necessary micronutrients it needs to fight dehydration and help balance intracellular fluid, adjusting the threshold for oral hydration, and reducing the risk of cognitive decline. With the right intake of key micronutrients, we can fix the dehydration problem without the need to resort to medication.
Source: DriptIV.com