Dehydration—a fluid imbalance caused by too little fluid taken in or too much fluid
lost or both—can occur quickly in all older adults, and the effects can be harmful.1 And
the problem is becoming more prevalent: hospitalizations for dehydration in older
adults increased by 40% from 1990 to 2000.2 In many cases, though, dehydration is
avoidable. How often are older adults at risk because of unnecessary and lengthy fasts
required before certain procedures or because of long waits in EDs where little attention
is paid to fluid and food intake? How often are they at risk because nurses fail to assess
their ability to pour from a bedside pitcher?