March is National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition month, as we look toward our diet to make sure we are eating not only a balanced, healthy diet, but the fluids we take. Dehydration is a serious issue that faces seniors every day. It can be caused by many factors and it can be life-threating. However, if we understand the prevalence and causes of dehydration we can successfully prevent it.
When it comes to prevalence 31 percent of patients in long-term care facilities are dehydrated, and almost 7 percent of hospitalized senior patients are dehydrated. However, the cause of dehydration is not just low water intake. Certain medications can be contributors, including diuretics, which in turn is used to treat high blood pressure, glaucoma, etc.
As we age we also have less of an urge to drink liquids because our feelings of thirst become much less acute. We also lose muscle mass as we age which results in a loss of fluids. Your kidneys will also become less efficient at removing toxins resulting in more water loss in urine.
So it is obviously important to prevent our loved ones from dehydration. Here are the steps you need to know to prevent dehydration. A senior should be drinking one-third of their body weight in ounces of water per day. An example would be a 150 pound person would need to drink 50 ounces of water a day or 6 glasses of water. Making sure you are not dehydrated will lead to less constipation, lower risk of colorectal cancer, fewer falls, lower risk of bladder cancer, and lower risk of heart disease. Do not wait for you to feel the urge to drink water because at this point the effects of dehydration have already begun.
Finally you should know the signs of dehydration and when you should seek medical attention. Here is a list of what the symptoms of dehydration are:
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Sunken eyes
- Dark urine
- Decrease in skin elasticity
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Inability to sweat or produce tears
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
To close here is a quote from Derek Johnson, Chairman of the National Association of Care Catering.
“It’s important to understand how much fluid is required on a daily basis, how this can be increased and what are good practices to follow, I call upon all involved in social and health care to play their part in helping us to promote this vital element of good nutritional care.”
- How Does Physical Therapy Help Seniors Recover After Surgery? - April 25, 2024
- Why Yoga Can Be Good For Seniors - April 11, 2024
- How In-Home Care Can Help Seniors With Spring Cleaning - March 26, 2024