MDS Alert

Quality Assurance ~ Improving Hydration Can Prevent These Common Clinical Problems

Does the resident have any of these conditions?

Low hydration can cause a number of clinical issues, including a top problem in long-term care: Constipation, which when left unaddressed, can lead to fecal impaction, a sentinel event.

You can resolve a large percentage of constipation with adequate hydration, says Janet Mentes, ARNP, PhD, BC, a nursing professor with UCLA School of Nursing.

In addition to constipation, the list of clinical conditions resulting from fluid deficit includes the following, notes Marian Scharwachter, CEO of provider platforms for Myziva.com.

Headaches

Pneumonia

Confusion

Hypotension

Electrlyte imbalance

Pressure ulcers

Falls

Fatigue

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