Potential consequences of dehydration include
constipation, falls, medication toxicity, urinary tract
and respiratory infections, delirium, renal failure,
seizure, electrolyte imbalance, hyperthermia,
and longer time to wound healing (especially pressure
ulcers). In older adults with many comorbidities,
dehydration can precipitate emergency
hospitalization and increase the risk of repeated
hospitalizations. Most significantly, dehydration
has been associated with increased mortality
rates among hospitalized older adults.