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Managing hypernatremia in fluid deficient elderly.

L Aaronson, L P Seaman

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

|July 1, 1989

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Elderly individuals, especially those in nursing homes, are prone to dehydration and hypernatremia. This condition can cause confusion mistaken for dementia, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Internal Medicine
Nursing

Background:

Elderly individuals, particularly those in institutionalized settings, face a high risk of fluid volume depletion.
Aging is associated with reduced intracellular fluid and increased body fat, increasing susceptibility to dehydration.
Transfers from nursing homes to acute care settings are common scenarios for this issue.

Observation:

Factors contributing to fluid volume deficit include febrile illness, enteral feeding, GI bleeding, diuretics, renal failure, vomiting, diarrhea, diabetes, and fluid restrictions.
Physiologic changes in the elderly predispose them to water loss.
Cognitive changes like apathy and confusion may be misdiagnosed as dementia.

Findings:

Fluid volume depletion and hypernatremia are significant risks in the institutionalized elderly.

Related Experiment Videos

Multiple medical conditions and treatments can precipitate dehydration.

The regulator subsystem and physiologic mode of Roy's Adaptation Model are relevant for addressing this problem.

Implications:

Accurate diagnosis of dehydration is crucial to avoid misattributing symptoms to dementia.
Interventions should focus on preventing and managing fluid volume deficits in this population.
Roy's Adaptation Model offers a framework for nursing care to address the physiologic needs of the elderly.