Dehydration in older individuals is very common and unfortunately can lead to numerous health problems including death (Schols, De Groot, Van Der Cammen, & Olde Rikkert, 2009). In a recent study it was found that more than 30 percent of elderly patients at a long term care facility were dehydrated (Schols, De Groot, Van Der Cammen, & Olde Rikkert, 2009)..Dehydration can also lead to urinary tract infections, impaired cognition, confusion, and difficulty with bowel movements (Schols, De Groot, Van Der Cammen, & Olde Rikkert, 2009).
Numerous elderly people are sent to the hospital each year because they become dehydrated and dehydration has been associated with increased death rates for elderly individuals who are in nursing homes (Schols, …show more content…
This program will give elderly people a better chance of successfully aging in place and being healthier. Information posters about the importance of staying hydrated and dangers of dehydration could be placed in various places around the adult daycare facility. Employees can be trained to look for signs of dehydration, and provide additional information that seniors may have about the importance of proper fluid intake. Staff can also keep track of how much water their clients are consuming and contact loved ones if they have any concerns regarding dehydration. Since meal service is already occurring at these locations, staff that is currently in place can be utilized to provide these added services. One way to determine if this program is successful is for clients to complete surveys which are inexpensive and easy. Elderly clients can write down how much water they consumed before additional water was being included with their meals, offered during the day, and taken home with them in the evening and then during the program to see if their consumption or intake has increased. The results of the surveys can be used to determine if this program is effective at getting elderly clients to drink more water. With the help of adult daycare employees “Healthy Hydration” can reduce the amount of hospital stays and help older people successfully age in place by taking a proactive approach to preventing dehydration in elderly
Numerous elderly people are sent to the hospital each year because they become dehydrated and dehydration has been associated with increased death rates for elderly individuals who are in nursing homes (Schols, …show more content…
This program will give elderly people a better chance of successfully aging in place and being healthier. Information posters about the importance of staying hydrated and dangers of dehydration could be placed in various places around the adult daycare facility. Employees can be trained to look for signs of dehydration, and provide additional information that seniors may have about the importance of proper fluid intake. Staff can also keep track of how much water their clients are consuming and contact loved ones if they have any concerns regarding dehydration. Since meal service is already occurring at these locations, staff that is currently in place can be utilized to provide these added services. One way to determine if this program is successful is for clients to complete surveys which are inexpensive and easy. Elderly clients can write down how much water they consumed before additional water was being included with their meals, offered during the day, and taken home with them in the evening and then during the program to see if their consumption or intake has increased. The results of the surveys can be used to determine if this program is effective at getting elderly clients to drink more water. With the help of adult daycare employees “Healthy Hydration” can reduce the amount of hospital stays and help older people successfully age in place by taking a proactive approach to preventing dehydration in elderly