Effects of hydration

1
IS HYDRATION ASSOCIATED
WITH QUALITY OF LIFE?
a review by Ronald J. Maughan - Chairman of the
Science Advisory
Board
A decline in both physical and mental capacity is
an inevitable part of the
aging process and this has implications for
Quality of Life (QoL) in the
elderly. Those in residential care, either for
medical reasons or because
of the absence of family carers, may be
especially vulnerable. This study
assessed the relationship between clinical care
indicators (CCI) and QoL
in 82 residents of four Australian residential
care facilities. Standard
analytical tools were used for CCI, covering 23
different areas of care,
and QoL, which was assessed as a profile of six
domains (physical,
psychological, independence, social
relationships, environmental, and
spiritual).
The study found, perhaps not surprisingly, that
poorer scores in the
clinical care indicators adversely influenced
QoL. All QoL domains
were affected to some degree, with the greatest
impact on the social
and spiritual domains. Poorer status in
hydration, falls and depression
were the three factors most strongly associated
with lower QoL scores,
suggesting those three indicators could represent
key areas for clinical
management in residential aged care.
It is important to recognise that this study does
not show that improving
the quality of care in these three areas will
necessarily improve the
quality of life of the elderly living in care.
However, improving hydration
status does seem to be a low cost intervention
that deserves further
investigation.
Courtney M, M OReilly, H Edwards, S Hassall
(2009). The relationship
between clinical outcomes and quality of life for
residents of aged care
facilities. Australian Journal of Advanced
Nursing 26, 49-57
It is important to
recognise that this study
does not show that
improving the quality
of care in these three
areas will necessarily
improve the quality
of life of the elderly
living in care. However,
improving hydration
status does seem to be
a low cost intervention
that deserves further
investigation.
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3
WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN HYDRATION
INSTITUTE?
The European Hydration Institute (EHI) is a
foundation established with the
objectives of advancing and sharing knowledge and
understanding of all
matters relating to human hydration and the
effects of hydration on health,
wellness and performance.
The European Hydration Institute (EHI) was
founded in response to the need
expressed by a number of scientists,
nutritionists and health care professionals,
for a one stop shop relating to hydration where
All hydration science and
knowledge could come together strategies for
further advancing understanding
in the area of hydration could be developed and
support for efforts designed to
ensure people across Europe are properly hydrated
could be provided.
The mission of the European Hydration Institute
(EHI) is to raise awareness of
the importance of hydration for health, wellness
and performance by
Providing an authoritative source of science-based
?
information about hydration which can be used for
developing strategies
to further advance both scientific and consumer
understanding of
hydration issues.
Raising awareness of the importance of proper
hydration and
?
ensuring that hydration needs are well understood
so that they can be
included in public health agendas. Special
attention to fluid needs is
required at key times such as during pregnancy
and whilst breastfeeding
as well as in populations like children and the
elderly. Maintaining proper
hydration levels when playing sport is important
and can impact on
performance.
The European Hydration Institute works with
independent scientists,
?
health and nutrition professionals and other
interested parties to develop
resources that can be used to stimulate the
professional and public
understanding necessary to encourage appropriate
hydration in all
sectors of the population.
The EHI is partnering with other organisations
and it is keen to engage other
institutions with an interest in the human
hydration field. Please contact Dr.
Jane Holdsworth, Director of the EHI, for further
information
jholdsworth_at_europeanhydrationinstitute.org.
http//www.europeanhydrationinstitute.org