Fluids

With aging, there are a numer of changes that occur which place older adults at greater risk for dehydration. Dehydration can be a serious and life threatening condition in older adults. There are several factors that make older persons more likely to develop this condition. These include:

• Decrease in thirst sensitivity
• Altered thermoregulatory function of the skin and
• Decrease in retention of fluid by the kidney.

In addition, about 20% of older adults have incontinence (an inability to control their urine) and so they may avoid drinking fluids because they are afraid of having an accident. Getting enough water--at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of some fluids each day--can reduce your vulnerability to dehydration as well as prevent constipation. Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization among people over age 65, and research shows that about one-half of those hospitalized for dehydration die within a year. If you develop the habit of drinking lots of water throughout the day, you won't have to worry about depriving your body of one of its most important nutrients. Water is especially important when the weather is very hot; perspiration, which loses body water, acts as a temperature control to help keep your body temperature within a normal range.