There are many factors that contribute to dehydration in a nursing home, from patients taking medications that dehydrate them to not being given fluids regularly. Two of the biggest issues are inadequate staffing and poor supervision.
Take, for example, the standard fluid intake a resident should have each day. On average, residents should drink around 1,500 milliliters a day. When studied, it was found that 39 out of 40 residents drank less than that amount. In many cases, the residents were drinking with meals, but they were not drinking between meals.
One of the biggest issues was that the staffing was inadequate. This meant that the residents did not get enough attention, so their lack of fluid intake wasn’t identified or addressed appropriately.
Fluid intake is an important step in helping the elderly and impaired recover and stay healthy. Dehydration can cause any number of issues from confusion to not being able to sweat. Dehydration can make it more likely for an elderly person to fall or to develop urinary tract infections.
What should you do if you believe that your loved one is dehydrated?
If you go to the nursing home and find that your loved one seems dehydrated, the first step is to make sure they get some fluids. You may want to talk to the nurses who are working to decide if the current medical plan is working. If you find that they are slow to respond or can’t help you with guaranteeing your loved one’s fluid intake increases, then you may want to talk to the nursing home director and start a conversation with your attorney for more support.