This somewhat counterintuitive finding may reflect environmental factors in nursing homes, where caregivers may be more attuned to highly dependent residents who cannot drink independently, leaving those who are able to care for themselves to do so. Such an approach may not work with residents who are physically functional but cognitively impaired. The study by Morgan and colleagues found that functionally limited but independent community-dwelling older adults had normal hydration status after a 12-hour fast, leading the researchers to conclude that dehydration may have greater associations to having many comorbid conditions or dependent living.