Pure Eau looks at our elderly dying of thirst

08 June 2011

Pure Eau looks at our elderly dying of thirst in hospital 

We all know that we are supposed to drink plenty of water (a minimum of eight glasses to be precise) to keep hydrated and in good health. During periods of sickness this is essential, particularly for pregnant women, children and the elderly. It is, therefore, quite startling to read that ‘water’ is now being prescribed on the NHS to ensure elderly patients are hydrated enough after damning reports suggest they are being left for hours without adequate water or food because they are too frail to ask and are being ignored. Dehydration contributes to the death of more than 800 hospital patients every year with another 300 dying of malnutrition according to the Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk  these figures are shocking. In a country which is supposed to be developed, it is tragic that our elderly are not receiving the adequate care they need and deserve. Pure Eau provides everyone with as much water as they can drink. Our water filters andwater coolers using reverse osmosis to remove contaminants ensure you drink as much pure water as you need.    

The signs of dehydration in elderly patients are relatively easy for most people to spot so why it is often difficult for trained medical staff? Seniors at highest risk are those who do not drink enough or sweat frequently. Dehydration can also be caused as a side effect of medications such as diuretics or laxatives or some medical problems such as diarrhoea, vomiting, heat stroke, high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia), infections or excessive exercise. The most common signs of dehydration in the elderly are thirst, confusion, irritability and poor skin elasticity. Pure Eau understands the importance of body hydration and we go above and beyond ensuring your drinking water is as pure as it can be. The latest report – by the Care Quality Commission – found patients frequently complained they were spoken to in a ‘condescending and dismissive’ manner. Since February, a team of inspectors from the CQC – including a nurse and an elderly patient – have been visiting 100 NHS trusts unannounced to check elderly patients are treated with dignity. Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: ‘The overwhelmingly majority of people of this country would never treat their older friends and relatives like this, and yet this is the experience of too many people on hospital wards. 

We appreciate that nursing staff are under a lot of pressure and most do a fantastic job. However, the evidence suggests in some cases this level of care is totally unacceptable. Water is a basic human requirement and even if the elderly cannot eat for days on end, water is often enough to sustain them until they feel able to eat again. At Pure Eau we provide water coolers and water filters to everybody including the elderly. We supply hospitals and nursing homes with as much purified water as they care to drink which is great for dialysis patients.  We ensure the water they drink has been through the reverse osmosis process ensuring all the toxins and impurities have been removed first because we do care about the water our elderly are drinking.

Article Links

water filters http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/water-filters.cfm
pure water http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/benefits/crystal-clear.cfm
water coolers http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/water-coolers.cfm
reverse osmosis http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/the-process.cfm

‹ Back