We are very alive to some of the challenges facing many of our service users and customers and in addition to supporting them to the very best of our ability, we try to provide general advice and encouragement in a variety of areas. One of these areas is that of hydration

Hydration in the elderly is a critical aspect of maintaining health and wellbeing. Older adults are at a higher risk of dehydration to various factors around the very nature of getting older. There are some physiological factors to take into account. The sensation of thirst diminishes with age and this can lead quite easily to a reduction in fluid intake. The ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine declines and this results in increased water loss. Add to this that older adults typically have a lower percentage of body water compared with younger individuals; and then of course, many older people are taking medication in varying quantities which can increase the risk of dehydration

What are the health implications of all this? Well, these are potentially mental as well as physical. Dehydration can lead to confusion and dizziness and to the worsening of dementia symptoms as well as causing things like constipation, infection and kidney stones. So, what might be some of the signs and symptoms of dehydration? These might include dry mouth and mucous membranes, fatigue and weariness, dizziness and confusion. There can be impact upon the elasticity of the skin too. The list is not exhaustive.

If you have particular concerns, you should seek professional advice of course. Here at Aylsham Care Trust, we realise that we can be an encouragement to people to take on appropriate amounts of fluid subject to medical advice and taking into account the particular needs of the individual. So, what simple strategies do we discuss with our service users? We encourage regular fluid intake; we monitor intake so that we can work with individuals to support them; we establish routine so we encourage drinking fluids at regular intervals throughout the day; we offer hydrating foods including fruit like water melon and oranges and vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes; we make fluids accessible and visible to remind people of availability. We do of course recognise personal preference too; some older adults prefer warm beverages or flavoured waters.

We should add that Aylsham Care Trust does not offer specialist health advice; we recognise that some conditions may require tailored fluid management plans