WATER INTAKE of Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

This study describes the adequacy of water intake among nursing home residents and identifies variables associated with the adequacy of water intake. Ninety-nine nursing home residents were observed for two 24-hour periods to record food and fluid ingested, ingestion behaviors, and function. Mean water intake (based on food and fluid) was 1,968 mL per day, ranging from 597 mL to 2,988 mL. Only eight subjects met their standard water requirement of 1,600 mL/m2 body surface area. Subjects with inadequate water intake were older, more independent, had few ingestion sessions per day, had intact speech, were semidependent with eating, did not drool, and had inadequate nutrient intake.

Assessment of a self-reported drinks diary for the estimation of drinks intake by care home residents: Fluid intake study in the elderly (FISE)

“…The Drinks Diary provided a useful estimation of drinks intake in more able elderly people residing in care homes. These more able residents have been found to be at high risk of dehydration as they appear independent, so staff assume they do not require help or encouragement with drinking (20) (21) . This is the first study to ask care home residents to document their drinks intake using a drinks specific tool so there are few study comparisons.…”

Increasing Fluid Intake and Reducing Dehydration Risk in Older People Living in Long-Term Care: A Systematic Review

“…The method of assessing fluid intake or hydration status was judged low risk of bias in 4 studies, 14,20,22,25 high risk in 16, 10e13,15e19,21,23,24,26,28,32,33 and unclear in 3. 29e31 Of 4 studies judged low risk, 2 assessed serum osmolality, 20,22 1 used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes only, 25 and 1 measured all fluid intake over 24 hours using referenced methodology with good interrater reliability (r ¼ 0.98).…”

“…Four investigated single interventions, 15,22,26,32 and 6 were multicomponent interventions. 10,14,16,18,23,30 The effect of a feeding assistant's position (sitting or standing) was investigated in a US nursing home crossover RCT. 15 Thirty-nine residents were randomized to either a "control" group (feeding assistants chose their position) or 1 of 2 intervention groups in which residents were fed one way for 2 weeks, then crossed over and fed the other way for 2 weeks.…”

Hydration Status of Geriatric Patients in a Psychiatric Hospital

“…This may indicate that staff made an effort to assist these patients to get a higher fluid intake, likely to compensate for their NPO status for ECT. Gaspar (1999) noted a similar intervention among nursing home residents, where staff tended to push fluids for those who could not take fluids independently.…”