Both a reduction in liquid intake and increase in liquid losses are responsible for dehydration in the elderly.
The following factors increase the risk of dehydration in elderly patients:
In addition elderly people may find it difficult to gain access to water because of diminution of mobility, visual troubles, swallowing disorders, cognitive alterations and use of sedatives or limit the intake due to fear of incontinence. Dehydration may be further worsened by medications such as diuretics or laxatives which enhances water loss (1).
Patients may present with mental confusion, impaired cognitive functions, mucosal dryness, hypotonia of ocular globes, orthostatic hypotension and tachycardia.
Dehydrated elderly individuals are also at increased risk of hyperthermia (under conditions of high ambient temperature), falls, kidney stones and urinary infections (1).
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