As a carer or person looking after the elderly, the problem is well known: Many older people drink too little and suffer from dehydration    med.: Volumenmangel der extrazellulären Flüssigkeit, u.a. des Blutplasmas – dem Körper wird weniger Flüssigkeit zugef.... This can then lead to serious kidney problems, among other things. In this article, we explain the connections and why it is so important to make sure you drink enough fluids.

What tasks do the kidneys perform in the body?

The kidneys are vital organs that fulfill a variety of tasks in the body. They regulate the water balance and electrolytes in the body and produce hormones that are important for blood pressure and the formation of red blood cells. The kidneys are also responsible for filtering waste products from the blood. When a person is dehydrated, the blood volume drops and the blood flow in the kidneys decreases. This can lead to an overload of the kidneys, as they have to do more work to filter the same amount of waste products. This in turn can lead to kidney damage and long-term kidney problems.

What happens when there is a lack of fluid in the body?

If the body has too little fluid, it tries to conserve water by producing less urine. This makes the urine more concentrated and can contain harmful substances such as uric acid, creatinine and increased electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. These can accumulate in the body and lead to kidney stones, inflammation or even kidney failure.

Older people are particularly at risk, as their thirst often decreases and they drink less water. Certain medications or illnesses can also lead to increased fluid excretion, which increases the risk of dehydration.

What does this mean for nursing staff?

In addition to the health consequences for older adults, dehydration can be associated with additional work for care staff. Dehydrated older people are often lethargic and confused, which can lead to an increased risk of falls and injuries. In addition, dehydration can lead to a worsening of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease in older people, resulting in additional care requirements.

To prevent kidney problems, it is therefore crucial to ensure sufficient fluid intake. For older people in particular, it is important to regularly remind them to drink enough and also to look out for signs of dehydration such as tiredness, dizziness or confusion.

What can you do specifically?

• Make sure that older adults always have a water bottle within reach.
• Add liquids to meals, e.g. soups and smoothies.
• Offer older adults fluids regularly, even if they are not thirsty.
• Monitor signs of dehydration such as dark urine and dry skin.

All in all, adequate fluid intake is an important part of preventive healthcare, especially for older people. Drinking regularly can reduce the risk of kidney problems and other illnesses.

You can find more information on this topic in the NDR advice article “Recognizing and treating kidney weakness in good time”.