Oral hydration maintenance in the elderly

Oral hydration maintenance in the elderly

Oral hydration maintenance in the elderly
answer
The results show that dehydration is an ongoing problem that is often addressed simply by writing “push oral fluids” in the patient management plan. These plans are not always communicated to other members of staff and hence patients’ hydration needs are often not addressed.

The Hydration Sticker scheme increased staff awareness of patient hydration status and gained traction by the MDT, thus achieving the project’s initial aim. There was a 6.5-fold increase in the number of patients having their hydration needs recognised by the end of the 3 week implementation period; showing that Hydration Stickers used as a visual prompt are an effective tool in assisting staff and relatives to encourage patients to increase oral fluid intake. By appointing Hydration Officers on the wards who reinforce the goals of the scheme, the Quality Improvement team has taken effort to ensure sustainability of the scheme.

Additional avenues for further development and optimisation include the use of semi-adhesive stickers, quantification of patient hydration status and formal introductions to the scheme at further MDT meetings and grand rounds. Such improvements are likely to enhance the efficacy of the scheme, making it more amenable to be translated to a wider patient cohort in the hospital setting and ensuring its ongoing sustainability