Best Practices for Dehydration Prevention

Abstract

Dehydration is linked to dysphagia and impaired cognition which are conditions frequently encountered by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working in health care. The SLP can play a role in dehydration prevention by participating in hydration management with individual patients and by addressing institutional hydration practices. This article highlights the need for awareness of predisposing factors that make older people susceptible to dehydration, the detection of signs and symptoms of dehydration, and the implementation of preventative strategies.