Why are vehicle checks important in the healthcare industry?
24 February 2026
As the weather gets warmer, many people may start to make plans on how to spend their time. However, for vulnerable members of the community this change in temperature could lead to illness. Consider how your loved ones, particularly the elderly, or those with mobility or memory issues, could be affected. Dehydration can be incredibly serious, especially over a period of time. While it is crucial to recognise the signs of dehydration, it is much better practice to prevent this from occurring in the first place.
Drinking enough water is crucial for keeping dehydration at bay. While other liquids may be acceptable, plain water is ideal. Many of our clients live on their own, without others in the home who may be able to bring them refills as and when required. Due to this, our Healthcare Assistants ensure that each client has water available to them before finishing their visit. Some clients may opt for other drinks, such as tea or orange juice, as well, which we will place within reach.
For most people, getting a drink can be quite easy. You may not need to plan to go and get a glass of water. However, for these individuals, they may have severe mobility problems which make standing or moving around dangerous, if not impossible. Likewise, those with memory problems may simply forget to drink. Having a drink within their reach, and within eyesight, can help to remind that vulnerable individual.
It is again worth reiterating that some of the challenges that vulnerable individuals face may be actions or thoughts we take for granted. Many of our clients may not have the mental capacity to remember to drink, either through injury or illness. Due to this, it can be all too easy for them to quickly become dehydrated regardless of the time of year. Come the summer months, the likelihood of them becoming ill is amplified.
Prompts can vary, depending on the wishes of the individual. Leaving the drink in view is a good prompt that can be helpful if the individual is likely to be alone for a prolonged period. During visits, we make a point of informing the client whehttps://absolute-healthcare.co.uk/care-solutions/absolute-timed-visits/n a drink is ready beside them, as well as verbally reminding them before we leave.
The use of an app-based care note system enables the next Healthcare Assistant to see that this has been done, and to also remind if necessary.
Giving someone a glass of water isn’t enough to monitor the potential for dehydration. You also need to check it is being drunk!
When looking after a vulnerable individual, take note of whether a drink has been consumed or not. By monitoring their intake, you may be able to identify trends, such as when they may be most likely to drink, or the drinks they are more likely to consume. As we discussed, water is the most ideal liquid, but only if it’s actually being consumed. Should you notice the individual prefers juice, soup, or another fluid, then you might want to utilise their preferences.
Should several of their drinks throughout the day be left untouched, this can be a warning that they may be becoming dehydrated.
Taking a person-centred approach to care is vital, especially if you want to give them as much autonomy as possible. Due to this, it isn’t acceptable to force a person to drink, even if the warm weather puts them at risk.
Staying hydrated, and maintaining the correct level of electrolytes, is vital to prevent illness or infection. For those who won’t drink, it can be useful to try hydration aids. One such aid used in the UK is Jelly Drops. These little gummy sweets are made from 95% water, as well as a variety of electrolytes. They come in a range of fruity flavours, and are both sugar free and vegan, making them suitable for a wide range of people.
Should the vulnerable individual not want to drink, they may instead be able to use these drops to maintain their hydration. They can even be a good substitute for older people who may struggle with chewing. While they look like jelly, they are incredibly soft, allowing for easy consumption. The only downside of these is that they are not available on prescription, meaning the cost will fall on the individual, or their next of kin, to provide.
Even when doing your utmost in preventing dehydration in vulnerable people, there is always the chance that it may still occur. Due to this, you should also make sure you know some of the common and uncommon signs that may signify dehydration. Equipping yourself with this knowledge can enable you to act in the early stages, before it leads to more severe complications.
Early signs can include:
More severe or prolonged dehydration can include:
Monitoring the individual each day, or creating a log if numerous people visit, can allow you to see if the vulnerable individual is taking in enough fluid. Being proactive is imperative to maintain their health, especially alongside other diagnoses where dehydration could exacerbate their symptoms.
If you have concerns about dehydration, it is important to act quickly. Liaise with a medical professional who may be able to encourage them to drink more and rule out any other causes for those symptoms.
It can be worrying to know a vulnerable person is on their own a lot, especially during the warmer weather. You might find it beneficial to set up timed visits each day, so that a trained professional can spend time with the person, encourage them to drink and eat, and even help with other aspects of care or socialisation.
Verity joined Absolute in February, 2025, as our HR & Recruitment Administrator.
With a background in HR, customer service, and marketing, she has taken the lead on crafting digital content.
Outside of work, Verity enjoys woodland walks, cooking, and video games.
