Misconceptions May Lead to Dehydration in Older Adults

A study in Age and Ageing said widespread misconceptions about hydration partly explain why dehydrated older adults hospitalized with a stroke are more than twice as likely to suffer impairment afterward, reports Medical News Today . "Many do not link hydration to good health and are unsure of how much to drink," said University College London's Cini Bhanu. The researchers interviewed 24 generally healthy people 75 or older living in their own homes in north and central London, along with nine caregivers. A number of participants were confused about the recommended level of fluids necessary to maintain healthy hydration, with doctors currently recommending older women drink eight glasses of water daily, while men should drink 10. Moreover, people often believe adequate hydration is achievable only by drinking water, when coffee, tea, soda, and even some types of alcohol can make sustaining hydration easier. Bhanu added that it is wrong "that thirst is a reliable indicator of when you need to drink, when this may no longer be the case for older people." The study also suggested older adults may worry about the stigma associated with losing bladder control, which prompts some to avoid liquids. "Education should target what fluids count, the poor reliability of thirst perception in later life, and when fluid intake may need to be deliberately increased (e.g., acute illness) and how this can be achieved," the research concluded.