Nursing home patients are prone to dehydration as many of them are unable to get the hydration they need by just drinking water. Drinking even a little less than the recommended amount can lead to the dehydration cascade where the body makes up for the lack of fluid by moving water out of vital organs and into the bloodstream, which could lead to concerning changes, such as worsening cognitive ability and more fatigue. More health problems can arise if the patient is not tended to appropriately. 

Dehydration in nursing homes affects the patients in the hydration gap more than anyone else, causing worse outcomes from a greater risk of injuries that can result in surgeries, leaving patients in the hospital for a prolonged period of time and a higher chance of death. Other factors such as other medications taken and preexisting blood conditions can worsen the effects of dehydration. Several of the signs of dehydration that one can look out for include mental deterioration, reduced thirst signals, hydration difficulty, and kidney inefficiency.

Treatments such as micronutrient supplementation helps with rebalancing the fluid inside the body, creating a new baseline for sustained oral hydration, and reducing the risk of cognitive decline by providing needed micronutrients to fight dehydration. With the right combination of vitamins and minerals, micronutrient supplementation can help those in the hydration gap get the help they need.