Ann Clin Med Res | Volume 2, Issue 2 | Research Article | Open Access

An Exploratory Study Examining the Adequacy of Water Intake among the Elderly Inpatients

Shiela Panao Arroyo¹ , LF Zhou² , Imma Harliny² , YL Zheng² , D Zhang² , Si Ching Lim^{1 *}

¹ Department of Geriatric Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore ² Department of Nursing, Changi General Hospital, Singapore

^*Correspondance to: Si Ching Lim 

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Abstract

The seniors occupy a significant proportion of the acute hospital beds and this number will likely increase in the future. Ensuring adequate water consumption among the seniors to avoid dehydration is often not registered as a priority in the hospital or nursing home setting, especially among the seniors with cognitive issues. The seniors with cognitive issues frequently need assistance with drinking due to concomitant dysphagia. The study showed a staggering 90% of the elderly inpatients could not meet their recommended daily water requirement during their stay in an acute geriatric ward, even among the independent elderly. The factors which contributed to poor water intake included cognitive issues, functional dependency and dysphagia.

Keywords:

Water intake; Dysphagia; Elderly; Dementia; Delirium

Citation:

Arroyo SP, Zhou LF, Harliny I, Zheng YL, Zhang D, Lim SC. An Exploratory Study Examining the Adequacy of Water Intake among the Elderly Inpatients. Ann Clin Med Res. 2021; 2(2): 1025..