What is a common cause of dehydration in older adults and a preventive strategy?

• A. Reduced thirst perception; ensure regular fluids and monitor for signs of dehydration.
• B. Drinking excessive fluids always causes dehydration.
• C. Dehydration is rare in older adults.
• D. Dehydration can be prevented by less activity.

Answer: (A)

Reduced thirst perception in older adults makes it easy to become dehydrated because they may not drink enough even when their body needs fluids. The best way to counter this is to ensure regular fluid intake and to watch for signs of dehydration, such as dark urine, dry mouth, dry skin, dizziness, confusion, or fatigue. This approach targets the realistic risk in aging—maintaining hydration through routine fluid consumption and early recognition of symptoms.

The other ideas aren’t accurate: drinking excessive fluids doesn’t typically cause dehydration—for many people it can lead to overhydration or electrolyte problems instead. Dehydration is not rare in older adults; it’s quite common. And reducing activity isn’t a reliable preventive strategy—staying active doesn’t prevent dehydration as much as consistently meeting daily fluid needs does.