Mr. A, aged 89, is displaying a furrowed tongue, dry lips, and a thready pulse of 105, causing the care team to strongly suspect that he is dehydrated. Which of the following principles provides the best guide for managing Mr. A's immediate care?
A) Older adults cannot tolerate a rapid intake of oral fluids.
B) Older adults are more able to tolerate dehydration than younger people, owing to their lower volume of intracellular fluid.
C) Fluids should be replaced intravenously rather than orally in older adults.
D) Most older adults require between 2 and 3 L of fluid daily.
D
Feedback:
Unless otherwise indicated, fluid intake for older adults should range from 2000 to 3000 mL. While some older adults may not be able to tolerate rapid fluid intake, this is not categorically true of all elders. IV administration is not necessarily preferable to oral intake and older adults are more, not less, susceptible to the deleterious effects of dehydration.
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