My DH was hospitalized Sunday for low BP, elevated heart rate, profuse sweating, clammy skin, and (according to the ALF) a temperature that would not register. He was diagnosed with dehydration and a UTI. 5 weeks earlier he was in the hospital for cellulitis and the hospital told me then DH was also a bit dehydrated. I informed the nurse and facility director today that I expect them to ensure DH stays hydrated. For what they charge and what they preach, they should be providing outstanding care. I visit DH about 4 times a week because I work full time. I give him juice or Gatoraid when I'm with him and leave plenty for him to drink when I'm not there.
I (thought) I was content with the care at the Assisted Living Facility, but now I am not so sure. I happened to run into another caregiver at the hospital who's mother was at the same facility. Coincidentally her mother too was hospitalized previously for dehydration. I am not ready to move DH because the facility prior to this was horrible. They kept him drugged and he could barely walk.
Have any of you experienced dehydration at a facility? If so, I am curious what your approach was in discussing it with the facility.
That is not good at all. Why don't you tell them you want them to keep a record of his intake of liquids as close as they can. At least it will put them on notice that you are very concerned about this.
Getting them to drink can be time consuming. Could be they are short staffed and don't take the time it needs to get sufficient fluids into him. I agree - ask them or have his doctor order and I/O on him - intake of liquids at the very least.
Once they are on Hospice, it is extremely important to keep them hydrated. But you should also take care that they are not swallowing and it is going down into the lungs. I know it sound terrible, but once you reach the end of the road, I think it is better to stop fluid early rather than later. The reason being is I heard many come into the Hospice unit at the hospital and they could not breath because they took too much down the wrong way. They will be more comfortable if they can breath good. It is a tough decision and it is the lack of fluid that will end things faster than the lack of food if they still have their weight. The morphine does let them relax and breath easier toward the final days.
I brought this topic ttt because I need some advice. DH was in emergency on Friday night for what turned out to be severe constipation. I am now giving him PEG daily to ensure that he doesn't have the constipation problem again. But I am concerned that he is showing signs of dehydration and in looking back over the last couple of weeks I can definitely say that he is drinking less fluids than previously. He isn't even finishing his coffee in the morning. When he was at the hospital and they took his vital signs, his blood pressure was optimum but his body temperature was below normal.
And it is so difficult to separate the symptoms of dehydration from those of dementia. Is the reason he is showing more signs of dementia now because he is also dehydrated?
So, any advice on how I can get him to drink more fluids? He complains that if he drinks too much water then he just has to get up to urinate more.
Remember that anything that melts down into a liquid can be included as fluid intake: ice cream, sherbet, jello. And perhaps he would eat more soup, not thinking of it as a "fluid". (Although it is--at least the liquid portion.)
Thanks elizabeth. Today I decided to monitor what his fluid intake is, and even including the fluids in fruit, and ice cream there is no way he is getting the recommended 8 ounces per 20 pounds of body weight - I'm not even sure he took in half of that today. I'll see if I can get him to take in a little more tomorrow, perhaps starting with a larger serving of juice for breakfast.
bqd, my DH lives in an ALF and does not like to drink liquids but if I put a straw in the drink, he'd drink it right down. Although you may have more serious problems to contend with, this little trick might be of some help. I'm wishing you the best of luck in finding a solution.
pedialyte popsicles are easy to give crushed up with a spoon or straw. I use them regularly for DH when he doesn't have a lot of intake fluid wise. you can find in grocers baby foods section, they come in a box. or at a drugstore. I would ask the facility to provide you with an update about fluid intake. it seems with short handed workers they don't have time or desire to make sure our spouses have the needed time required to ensure they are provided fluids like they should. best of luck divvi
I am still caring for my DH at home, so one would think that it would be easier for me to get more fluids into him. But as they say, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink". Yesterday I gave him a slice of watermelon. I had to remind him 3 times that it was sitting in front of him before he ate it. We each have a bottle of water on the go all day. I refill mine several times a day. He only had half a bottle of his yesterday. I think he just forgets that it is there, and since he can't register thirst properly, he isn't getting the fluids he needs. Maybe I should try adding more salt to his foods to try to make him thirsty and to help him retain fluids?