Effect of a fluid consumption education intervention on the hydration status of care home residents aged over 65 years

ABSTRACT

Dehydration is a typical problem among the elderly people who live in nursing homes. It is a condition that is costly in terms of health care costs and length of treatment due to the illnesses it causes. It is a condition that can be prevented, and elderly people can benefit from initiatives to increase their fluid intake. This study aimed to find out how the hydration status of elderly people is affected by hydration education. It was also an assessment of the participants’ hydration status and water intake from sources. Forty-three elderly people from two nursing homes participated in this quasi-experimental study. There were 25 elderly in the intervention group (IG) and 18 in the control group (CG). For one month, 40-minute sessions per week (20 minutes of education and 20 minutes of activity) were devoted to teaching about fluid consumption. To evaluate the effectiveness of the education, the water balance questionnaire, urine USG and pH measurement, and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly were assessed before, at the end of the intervention, and three months after. The results showed that the IG group’s hydration improved, and their short-term water consumption increased. Education needs to be carefully implemented and the results followed up to ensure that elderly people develop a habit of drinking water.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).