An older adult does not complain of thirst. What should the nurse do to assess whether this person is dehydrated?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assessing urine-specific gravity is a good indicator of hydration status. If the specific gravity is high, it could indicate dehydration. However, other factors such as medication use can also impact urine-specific gravity, so it is important to consider other signs and symptoms as well. Checking pupillary reactions, deep tendon reflexes, and compensatory changes in respirations may not necessarily be good indicators of dehydration.

An Older Adult Does Not Complain of Thirst