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Reducing the Risk of Dehydration in Seniors

Jul 25, 2021

July is dehydration awareness month.  For residents of Arizona temperatures start heating up as early as May and June, making it necessary to hydrate earlier and more often.  Living in the desert presents an increased threat of dehydration, which can quickly lead to serious health issues, especially for seniors.

Causes of dehydration
Most people know that a lack of fluid intake is a root cause of dehydration, but what many don’t realize is that the risk of dehydration can result from a variety of factors. One prominent cause can be a side effect from medications.  When a doctor prescribes medication, it is important to check the potential side effects and know if it must be taken with food and/or water to help ensure effectiveness and  reduce the possibilities of any issues. Some medications will cause excessive sweating, hot flashes, loss of appetite, nausea or diarrhea.  These side effects can and often will cause dehydration if you are not careful.  Medications that act as diuretics also put seniors at greater risk dehydration. Other causes of dehydration include:

  • Swallowing disorders (often accompanied by Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease)
  • Ailments that cause seniors to be bedridden
  • Blood pressure medications and antihistamines
  • Obesity
  • Individuals with diabetes who urinate frequently
  • Illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhea (such as those enduring chemotherapy)
  • Seniors with five or more chronic illnesses
  • Seniors living in higher altitudes
  • Individuals with cystic fibrosis
  • Seniors on more than five prescription medications
  • Individuals living in high temperature climates

Signs of dehydration
While awareness is the first step in preventing dehydration. It is valuable to know and recognize the signs you or a loved one may need to hydrate. To help, we have put together a list of the common signs of dehydration:

  • Headaches
  • Cramping in the limbs
  • The inability to produce tears while crying
  • Dry mouth
  • Thick saliva
  • Dark yellow or brown urine
  • Issues producing urine
  • Cloudy or foggy brain
  • Joint pain
  • Unusual cravings for food
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Irritability

One of the scariest things about dehydration for seniors, is that they are often unable to tell that they are dehydrated until they become extremely ill. For caregivers and loved ones, it is important to look out for the signs and symptoms of dehydration before a case of advanced dehydration sets in. Here are symptoms and complications that can occur from advanced dehydration:

  • Convulsions
  • Confusion
  • Bloating
  • Severe muscle contractions
  • Low blood pressure
  • Wrinkled skin
  • Dry and sunken in eyes
  • Rapid breathing
  • Rapid and weak pulse

If any of these symptoms appear, it is vital to drink water immediately to rehydrate. However, drinking slowly is also incredibly important in these circumstances, due to the potential for brain swelling caused by excessive drinking in a short duration of time.

Health complications from dehydration
When the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid to function properly, it will begin shutting down. This can lead to kidney failure, loss of consciousness, seizures, coma or death. These outcomes are even more of a threat to seniors who are already at risk for complications due to their age and health status.

As we get older, we become less capable of regulating our fluid balance, which can cause seniors to be unaware that they are drinking less, since they do not feel as thirsty as frequently.  The aging process also prompts a decline in muscle mass, which causes a decrease in water retention. Additionally, organs can become less efficient at filtering fluids and waste, which can also increase the risk of extreme dehydration.

How to manage a healthy fluid balance
The good news is dehydration is highly preventable. Maintaining a healthy fluid intake is as simple as setting a routine, beginning with the following steps:

  1. Drink at least five glasses of water per day.
  2. Avoid or limit alcoholic beverages.
  3. Limit caffeine intake, as it is a diuretic.
  4. Use sports drinks or electrolyte-filled drinks such as Pedialyte or coconut water whenever dehydration strikes.
  5. Maintain proper nutrition and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as they are filled with water.
  6. Drink small amounts constantly throughout the day.
  7. Avoid high-protein drinks.
  8. Consider adding natural juice or milk to the liquid routine to encourage fluid intake- it can be more than just water.
  9. Infuse water with herbal tea, fruits or vegetables: citrus, celery, cucumber, etc.

Reducing the risk of dehydration starts with awareness and adopting some simple daily habits. Knowing the symptoms and taking the steps to maintain fluids is vital for keeping seniors safe and preventing unseen health issues.

Dr. Alina Walden – Vice President Clinical Services

Dr. Alina Walden is a highly accomplished professional with an impressive academic background. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona Honors Program. Subsequently, she obtained her medical degree from New York Medical College and earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix.

With over 15 years of experience in clinical practice, Dr. Walden has specialized in risk adjustment, disease management, and utilization management. Her expertise as a physician executive, combined with an in-depth understanding of the CMS HCC-Risk Adjustment Model and Quality STAR measures, enables her to develop and implement effective population health programs. She is also certified as a Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA), Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) from AAPC. These credentials align perfectly with the goals of Adobe Population Health.

Dr. Walden is committed to delivering exceptional customer service to the entire care team, consistently striving to enhance and promote positive patient experiences. She firmly believes that every individual involved in the healthcare process plays a crucial role in advocating best practices. Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Walden cherishes spending quality time with her family, which includes her loving husband and four children. Her personal interests include reading and traveling.

Gail Lara – Vice President Strategic Outreach

With extensive experience in healthcare marketing, operations and management, Gail has made a career of developing and growing service lines and businesses from large health systems and specialty practices to wellness and ambulatory services.

As a VP at Adobe Care & Wellness, she oversees outreach to physicians and identifies opportunities for growth that align with the needs of the community and its members.
Gail earned an associate degree in business at Midland College followed by a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Texas. She then worked in operations and business development with a national company upon moving to Arizona and joining the state’s largest urgent care organization where she was instrumental in its growth, identifying new locations, opening clinics, and overseeing licensing, staffing, and compliance. Gail then built and grew service lines at a local hospital group and oversaw marketing and business development for another.

With a commitment to innovative thinking, Gail’s wide range of experience is enhanced by her ability to foster collaborative relationships to achieve goals.

Residents of Arizona, Gail, and her husband have three children. She is passionate about community service, has served on the board of the Arthritis Foundation, and regularly volunteers at The Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Maria Martinez – Vice President Population Health

Maria Martinez started with Adobe Care & Wellness in the call center, making health risk assessment (HRA) calls to members. She soon took on new responsibilities, learning the ins and outs of Salesforce and helping to build the company’s initial technology platform. Maria never expected that her first post-college job would lead to a career in health care solutions. Maria was born and raised in Phoenix and earned a Bachelor of Science in justice studies with a minor in women and gender studies, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She quickly rose to Senior Director of Clinical Services at Adobe Care & Wellness and later to Vice President of Operations. As VP of Operations, Maria oversees the nurse practitioner scheduling and in-home assessments program to ensure members receive the care needed. She is passionate about making health care more accessible to those living in rural areas or lacking the mobility to get to a doctor’s office helping the company grow and expand its ability to help others.

David Heinrich – Vice President, Integrated Care

A Chicago native with more than 20 years of management experience, David began his management career in the retail industry, quickly working his way up to Store Manager and then Regional Manager. While overseeing multi-million dollar retail stores, David felt the pull to venture into the medical field. He began working for an ambulance company providing pre-hospital care to the sick and injured which inspired him to further his education in nursing school. As he earned his degree, David worked full-time doing organ and tissue recovery for one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit body donation programs.

Since graduating as a registered nurse, David has worked in medical-surgical, trauma, and telemetry units as well as in home health, hospice, and nursing education. He has held clinical leadership roles including Clinical Manager and Director of Nursing.

When Adobe Care and Wellness started their Special Needs Plan in 2019, David joined the team and quickly helped grow the program. He was promoted to Director of Case Management and then to Senior Director of Integrated Care. David, who is also a Certified Case Manager, now serves as Adobe’s Vice President of Integrated Clinical Services.

Alex Waddell – Chief Information Officer

Alex Waddell is an Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in economics. Alex began his career in IT as a software developer for a home health and case management provider. Over the next four years, Alex took on increasing responsibilities and began earning certifications as a Salesforce developer. In 2018, he was hired as Director of Software Development for Outreach Health Services, where he worked for two years before accepting the position of Executive Vice President of Technology at Adobe Care and Wellness. Alex has continued his drive for excellence and is now a Certified Salesforce Application Architect as well as a member of the Forbes Technology Council. In his current position as CIO,  Alex manages and directs a team of developers and oversees the design and development of the proprietary software that supports the expanding healthcare solutions Adobe Care and Wellness offers. Alex and his department, provide internal staff and external entities with analytics that measures results and helps drives decisions. He and his team also ensure data security for the company’s hardware and software.

Chad Wolver – Chief Financial Officer

Chad Wolver is an Arizona native and graduate of University of Arizona’s Executive MBA program in Accounting & Finance. He brings nearly a decade of commercial banking, strategic finance and management experience to the leadership team. He first met our founders, Jayme and Pat, working as the banker for Adobe Care & Wellness in 2017. Chad has always had a passion for helping others. After completing undergraduate degree in Communications with a minor in mathematics at Arizona State University, he joined the US Peace Corps and spent four years in South Africa. In his role as CFO, Chad will develop the company’s financial strategy, oversee budget and planning, and help the organization grow efficiently in its goal to expand as a multi-state provider. Chad serves as a board member for some of Arizona’s most well-recognized philanthropic organizations including Arizona Community Foundation’s Kellenberger + Tollefson Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy Advisory Council and ONE Community’s Millennial Advisory Board. He’s a past board member of ASU Lodestar Center’s Leadership Council, Human Rights Campaign Arizona, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS and Phoenix Community Alliance’s Social & Housing Advancement Committee. When Chad is not working or giving his time to one of the many causes and organizations he cares about, he enjoys traveling with his partner and spending time with their beloved Italian greyhounds.

Challas Ray – Chief Operating Officer

Challas Ray has spent more than a decade building a career in the health care industry. Challas holds a Master’s in Clinical Kinesiology from Eastern Illinois University. After completing his education, he began work with Sara Bush Lincoln Health System, where he helped create and expand an external wellness program for companies interested in providing wellness programs to their employees. Challas is originally from Toledo, Illinois, but now calls Arizona home.  He moved to the Valley of the Sun seeking warmer weather and new opportunities. Joining The Beech Group as a Transitional Specialist, it was there Challas met and began collaborating with Jayme Ambrose. In 2017, he joined Jayme’s team to help launch Adobe Care & Wellness. As Adobe Care & Wellness COO, Challas provides oversight of the operational process to improve efficiencies and conducts the cost-benefit analysis of new and existing initiatives.

Pat Duryea, PhD – Chief Inspiration Officer

Patricia (Pat) Duryea earned her bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management from Arizona State University. She then served as a Human Resource Director for nearly six years before returning to school to earn a Master of Educational Psychology from Northern Arizona University and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Walden University.  Through her career spanning three decades, Pat has worked as a clinical manager, employee assistance program director, an adjunct professor at ASU and she’s owned and operated multiple small businesses. She has extensive knowledge in developing health and wellness programs, and experience in trauma-related counseling. As Chief Inspiration Officer at Adobe Care & Wellness, Pat manages human resources and the development of company culture.  She also serves as the compliance officer, receiving complaints, solving issues and reporting them to Arizona Complete Health.  She works directly with the management team on leadership development within the organization and monitoring morale. Pat’s overall focus is to ensure that employees feel included and valued in their contributions to the company’s success and to provide them with the opportunity to be the best they can be.

Jayme Ambrose DNP RN CCM – Chief Executive Officer

Jayme Ambrose is the visionary, founder and CEO behind Adobe Care & Wellness. She’s spent more than 30 years building a career in the healthcare industry. Jayme holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in nursing from Arizona State University. She later earned a Doctorate in nursing and health care administration at Case Western Reserve. Her work coupled with her education gave Jayme an in-depth understanding of and experience in development and case management programs.

Jayme is a member of the Case Management Society of America where she’s served as a board member, and she’s an active member of the Arizona Nursing Association. She also serves as an adjunct professor for doctorate students at A.T. Stills and at ASU teaching RN, BSN and master’s students and develops curriculum.