Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Vol. 30 No. 11 November 2004
By Jill A. Bennett, PhD, RN; Valorie Thomas, MS, RN; Barbara Riegel, DNSc, RN, CS, FAAN
ABSTRACT
Dehydration has serious consequences for older adults, including increased risk of illness or death. This retrospective review of medical records describes the prevalence, assessment, and risk factors for chronic dehydration in 185 older adults who visited an emergency department in June 2000. Results showed chronic dehydration was present in 89 (48%) patients. Physicians documented assessment for signs of dehydration in 23 (26%) of the dehydrated older adults, but no independent assessments for dehydration were recorded by nurses. These findings indicate many older adults may suffer from unrecognized dehydration, and nurses should be alert to the possibility that dehydration may be present in community-dwelling older adults as well as those who live in residential facilities.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. Bennett is Assistant Professor and Scientist, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon. Ms. Thomas is Outcomes Management Consultant, Clinical Effectiveness Division, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego, California. Dr. Riegel is Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This work was funded by a grant from the San Diego State University Institute for Nursing Research, San Diego, California.
Address correspondence to Jill A. Bennett, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road SN-5N, Portland, OR 97239-2941.
