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Keeping Nursing Home Residents Hydrated

University of California Los Angeles, jmentes{at}sonnet.ucla.edu

Betty L. Chang

University of California Los Angeles

Joseph Morris

University of California Los Angeles

The purpose of this research is to ascertain nursing home (NH) staffs’ perspectives of the problem of dehydration in NHs (skilled nursing facilities) and have them identify clinically practical interventions to ensure that NH residents consistently take adequate fluids. Four focus groups with 28 NH staff members in attendance are held in three NHs in metropolitan Los Angeles. The majority of participants are certified nursing assistants; however, licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, and other NH staff also attend the groups. Content analytic techniques are used to analyze the data. Three themes emerge focusing on residents’ reasons for not drinking, signs and symptoms of dehydration, and strategies for improving hydration in NH residents. NH staff members identify the complexity of providing adequate hydration that was influenced by the resident’s relationship with family and NH staff and communication between staff members.

Key Words: dehydration • nursing homes • older adults • content analysis • nursing assistants

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