Module 4 Lesson 1. Eating and drinking - more pleasant mealtimes Preventing dehydration People living with dementia have a higher risk of being dehydrated. There can be several reasons for this: inability to explain their needs; decreased thirst sensation; not offered enough to drink; and, swallowing problems in the late stage of dementia. The person you care for needs to be encouraged to drink 8-10 glasses (1500-2000 millilitres) of fluid (water, iced lollies, soup and juice, not including tea or coffee every day). Severe dehydration Nasir has Alzheimer’s disease, but he is able to eat and drink without assistance from his wife, Zeenat. Nasir likes to walk a lot. One hot afternoon, Zeenat also notices that Nasir seems very tired, walks very slowly and then collapses on the floor. Nasir is sent to the local hospital’s Emergency Department and is diagnosed with dehydration. After treatment in the hospital, Nasir has recovered and is able to go home again. Check your understandingSevere dehydration. How would you advise Zeenat to deal with the situation after Nasir is discharged home? Please select all the responses that you feel are appropriate. Zeenat records the time and the amount of fluid Nasir actually consumes.Zeenat needs to ensure that Nasir drinks 8-10 glasses of water during the day.Zeenat needs to let Nasir make the decision about when to drink.Check Zeenat records the time and the amount of fluid Nasir actually consumes. This is a good response. It can be helpful to establish a routine and record the number of glasses Nasir drinks from breakfast time to dinner time. Drinking after dinner time may potentially increase nighttime visits to the bathroom. Zeenat needs to ensure that Nasir drinks 8-10 glasses of water during the day. This is a good response. Zeenat notices that Nasir may forget to drink, so she is trying to help her husband drink enough water every day. Zeenat needs to let Nasir make the decision about when to drink. This answer is not so good even though she is respecting Nasir’s autonomy. Since people with dementia have decreased thirst sensation, it could be dangerous to leave it up to them whether to drink or not without reminding them. If not reminded, Nasir may get dehydrated again and collapse. Error: Please select at least one option.Please click ‘check’ to view the answers before continuing.Error: Please type your answers in the text box.