Why is dehydration a major risk for older adults and what are some of the problems associated with dehydration in the elderly?

Answer 1

Dehydration is a major risk for older adults because total body water decreases with age. Even mild stresses, such as a hot day or a fever, can quickly dehydrate the tissues. The thirst mechanism may diminish, and even healthy older people may go for long periods without drinking. The kidneys also become less efficient in recapturing water before it is lost as urine. Dehydration then leads to problems such as constipation, bladder problems, and mental confusion that is easily mistaken for senile dementia, an effect that may occur with a water loss of as little as 2 percent of body weight. In a person with asthma, dehydration thickens mucus in the lungs, blocking airways and leading to pneumonia. In a bedridden person, dehydration can lead to pressure ulcers.