Dehydration can be a serious problem for our aging population and is caused by a variety of reasons. Many medications can cause your body to dehydrate due to side effects that cause sweating or increased urination. Kidney function has been shown to decline with age, making the body less able to conserve fluid when needed. Also, doctors have found that the elderly feel thirst less keenly than the rest of us. And conditions like lack of mobility and dementia can keep seniors from getting up to get themselves a glass of water when needed. All of these factors conspire to cause a condition that is quite common and can be extremely serious.
There are a number of symptoms that indicate mild to severe dehydration. Dark urine or none at all, a drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse and breathing, lack of energy, fainting, very dry skin or sunken eyes can all be signs. Additionally, there are several mental signs such as disorientation or confusion, dizziness and irritability. If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of dehydration such as these, it’s important to seek medical evaluation and treatment as soon as possible, before things take a more serious turn.
But how does a senior who may not be able to drive to the nearest urgent care or ER get medical help quickly? They could always call for an ambulance, but that’s not necessarily the best option. Better would be to get treatment right where they are, in the comfort of their own home.
With DispatchHealth, you can request medical treatment at home or wherever else is convenient for you. A team of ER-trained medical professionals will come to you, armed with the knowledge and ability to treat a number of medical conditions, including dehydration, injuries, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and much more. They take most health insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. And these doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are able to provide medications, order lab tests and deal with almost anything your local urgent care can handle.
A DispatchHealth team responding to a dehydration call can test electrolyte levels, offer electrolyte treatment and IV treatment if necessary and help correct severe symptoms as needed. And since they’re not rushing in and out of the room in a bid to treat as many patients as possible, they can take the time to really understand the problem and all of its underlying causes.
Bottom line, this modern-day house call is a quick and convenient way to get the medical treatment you need in the place where you feel most comfortable.
