Preventing Dehydration in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

1 Preventing Dehydration in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia Dehydration in nursing home residents with dementia is particularly common because the part of the brain that recognizes liquid imbalances and allows individuals to know they are thirsty may not work properly. Dehydration and dementia go hand in hand and happen at significantly higher rates compared to those without dementia or cognitive decline. Older people with dementia have difficulty remembering to drink regularly. They normally need help or reminders to remain hydrated throughout the day. Apart from cognitive decline, other risk factors for dehydration among dementia patients include reduced ability to eat and drink independently, a decline in verbal communication, fear of incontinence, medication, and others.

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2 The proposed study is preventing hospitalization due to dehydration in nursing home residents with dementia. This study is designed to provide ways of preventing dehydration and associated health risks among the named population (Nagae et al., 2020). Dehydration in patients with dementia is associated with detrimental health effects. For instance, it is associated with a high risk of falls among the patients. The results of falls include fractures of the hip, broken bones, or injury of the spinal cord. These injuries can suddenly change life to something worse (Nagae et al., 2020). Other concerns include constipation, skin health problems, and others.

Reversible symptoms associated with dehydration include weakness, fatigue, agitation, muscle cramping in the arms and legs, nausea, and dizziness. All these health impacts result in hospitalization or readmission of the patients (Wilson & Dewing, 2020). Therefore, this study aims at preventing these hospitalizations due to dehydration by proposing proper ways to help patients with dementia remain hydrated.

3 References Nagae, M., Umegaki, H., Onishi, J., Huang, C. H., Yamada, Y., Watanabe, K., ... & Kuzuya, M. (2020). Chronic dehydration in nursing home residents. Nutrients, 12(11), 3562. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113562 Wilson, K., & Dewing, J. (2020). Strategies to prevent dehydration in older people with dementia: a literature review. Nursing Older People, 32(1). https://doi.org/10.7748/nop.2019.e1208