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What is Hydration IV Therapy and Who Can Benefit from it?

December 20, 2020 0 Comment Category: Care Center

Dehydration is a serious concern among seniors and can lead to a shortage of adequate fluid in their bodies. This can impair many bodily functions, which can aggravate the other health conditions in older adults. Hydration therapy aims to resolve this problem by delivering fluids directly into the bloodstream through a small IV.

The common effects of dehydration in seniors can range from kidney stones, urinary tract infections, heat exhaustion, and electrolyte imbalance to kidney failure and even seizures. Hydration IV therapy supplies vital electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins along with the fluids to the body to help prevent these health problems. Sometimes, caregivers in skilled nursing homes also administer the prescribed medications with hydration therapy to reduce the risks of serious complications.

Benefits of Hydration IV Therapy

The most striking benefit of hydration IV therapy is that it facilitates a quicker delivery of fluids to the body when compared to drinking fluids as usual. As drinking water and other fluids will supply the vitamins, minerals, and the needed nutrients to the body only after processing through the digestive system, it takes a lot more time when compared to infusing fluids directly into the bloodstream through an IV. This can work to replenish patients who are severely dehydrated or need medication fast.

Hydration IV therapy can also benefit seniors in long-term or short-term rehabilitation care by facilitating their speedy recovery. Skilled nursing homes recommend hydration therapy to regain and maintain a proper balance of fluids in the body, which can help with the removal of waste products from the body, fighting infections, and improving immune deficiencies. Keeping the fluid levels at the optimal level also supports kidney functions in seniors, while maintaining good blood volume and reducing disease-related pain.

Apart from seniors, hydration IV therapy can help people of all ages to maintain a healthy balance of fluids in the body, which can work to increase energy, resolve nutritional deficiencies, and even help with flushing wounds. For individuals in rehab care post-hospitalization, proper hydration can optimize their healing process and provide the added nutrients and minerals needed to recover quickly from a specific condition.

As the risks of dehydration are higher in seniors due to their declining immune system and health complications that have symptoms like vomiting and difficulty swallowing, hydration therapy can be a life-saver and help to avoid further treatments too. That is why doctors recommend hydration IV therapy to seniors in skilled nursing homes who are too weak to drink fluids, unable to swallow water, lose fluids constantly due to problems like vomiting or diarrhea, or those who are suffering from a gastrointestinal issue.

Contact Foothill Heights to learn more.