A major cause of emergency room visits for frail or demented older adults is dehydration.

Dehydration occurs when a person is either not getting enough liquids daily or excreting too much urine. The body's ability to detect thirst diminishes with age. Illness and medication can also cause dehydration. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

• Headache -- the most common symptom
• Dry mouth and tongue
• Cracked lips
• Dry skin
• Sunken eyes
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Dark, strong smelling urine
• Weight loss
• Fast heart beat
• Low blood pressure
• Confusion, light-headedness
• Disorientation