Patient dehydration is a serious concern but it’s especially alarming when it happens in nursing homes where the elderly often fail to monitor food and water intake. The staff shortage in nearly every facility further adds to the challenge of tracking elderly fluid balance. What becomes critical in this situation is providing solutions that can help staff to more easily monitor fluid intake and reduce the risks associated with dehydration.

 “The staff shortage in the long-term care facilities is a big challenge and the work load is only going to increase, so we are always looking to offer solutions that help with staff efficiency while providing safer resident care,” says Tim Sullivan National Healthcare Manager at Cambro Manufacturing. “We need to educate the management on what’s available out there and this is one option that can have an immediate impact. “

These tumblers are specifically designed for easy monitoring of liquid intake. The new 6 ounce and 9 ounce Lido tumblers are embossed with subtle 2 oz. increments on the outside, leaving no room for error. It provides a quick and accurate way to record the level of patient liquid intake. The staff doesn’t have to remember the volume of the glass and subtracting from the total amount. All they need to do is to take note of the amount of intake from the top down.

4 Common Factors Leading to Dehydration in Nursing Homes

1. Medications – Multiple medications can include side effects such as night sweats, causing loss of fluid.
2. Decreased Thirst – Reduced sense of thirst and becoming more dependent on caregivers; prolonged time between hydration.
3. Decreased Kidney Function – Losing the full potential of kidneys to conserve water leads to more frequent bathroom visits and fluid loss.
4. Illness – Conditions that cause frequent discharge or vomiting quickly causes dehydration.

3 Steps to Accurate Measurement with Lido Tumblers

1. Take note of the amount of liquid given to the patient.
2. Record the amount of intake after each serving, along with the time and day.
3. Record the amount of intake by measuring from top down.

Every precaution that can be taken to minimize the detrimental consequences of dehydration in elderly patients is critical to their well-being. While there many factors ranging from age and illness, to medication and shortage of staff that can lead to this condition, it is ultimately the responsibility of the management to provide the tools that enable work efficiency and to give the highest possible level of care and attention to prevent dehydration from even happening. Using the right product is the first step towards improved resident care.

Click to Request a Sample of the Lido Tumbler

or

Contact your Cambro Healthcare Representative to learn more about efficient patient meal delivery solutions.