Should dehydration in older people be a marker of lack of quality in long term care provision?

Hooper, Lee ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7904-3331 and Bunn, Diane (2014) Should dehydration in older people be a marker of lack of quality in long term care provision? Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 15 (4). pp. 232-236. ISSN 1471-7794

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Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider whether dehydration in older people should be used as a marker of lack of quality in long-term care provision. Design/methodology/approach – The piece examines the assumed relationship between dehydration and the quality of care, and then considers the factors that can lead to dehydration in older people. Findings – Even with the best care, older people, in the absence of a sense of thirst, and for fear of urinary accidents, difficulties getting to the toilet or choking, may choose to drink less than would be ideal for their health. While good care supports older people to minimise these problems, it also respects older people making their own decisions around when, what and how much to drink. It appears that dehydration may sometimes be a sign of good care, as well as arising from poor care. Social implications – Residential care homes should not be stigmatised on the basis of their residents being dehydrated, but rather helped to explore whether they are achieving an appropriate balance between care and quality of life for their residents. Originality/value – This discussion may be of use to those living in, working in, managing or assessing residential care.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	older adults,dehydration,residential care,long-term care,quality of care,policy
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023) Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2014 08:44
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2023 01:22
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/50354
DOI:	10.1108/QAOA-09-2014-0019

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