Nutrition, comfort and end of lifeQuestion 1271 of 1700
Why must you encourage older adults to drink even when they do not say they are thirsty?
- They never feel thirst at all in old age
- They need less fluid with age than younger people
- Their thirst response gets weaker with age
- They drink too much by habit and need to cut back
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Correct answer: Their thirst response gets weaker with age
A weaker thirst response raises the risk of dehydration.
Source: Nursing Assistant (Reuter), 6.2: Nutrition and Fluid Needs
Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026