When an aging loved one begins to need around-the-clock care, family members look for the best possible nursing home within the family’s budget with the expectation that the caregivers will treat the elderly family member with the care, compassion, and dignity that they deserve. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls nursing home abuse and neglect “an important public health problem.” A review of 52 studies showed that one out of every six senior citizens over age 60 suffered abuse in the last year. Neglect is a form of nursing home abuse, especially neglect of the basic necessities, such as food and water. Dehydration is the most frequently occurring form of elder abuse in nursing homes. One study showed nearly all residents in the 40 nursing homes included in the study suffered from inadequate hydration.
What Are the Signs of Dehydration in the Elderly?
The body needs proper hydration for all bodily systems to function properly. The elderly population is more likely to experience the ill effects of dehydration, yet nursing home facilities frequently allow their residents to go without adequate fluid intake, in some cases to the point of serious injury or death. Unfortunately, elderly patients with cognitive dysfunction may not be able to adequately express to staff or visiting family members that they are thirsty or feeling unwell. If you have an elderly loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility, it’s important to recognize the signs of dehydration. Signs of dehydration are easy to miss in elderly patients because they mimic some of the natural signs of aging including:- Dry mouth and lips
- Weakness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- light-headedness
- Confusion
- Difficulty with balance/walking
- Dry, flaky skin
- Muscle cramps
- Lethargy
- Swollen feet
- Loss of appetite or cravings for sweets
- Dark urine