What laboratory result might be expected for an elderly client showing low blood pressure and poor skin turgor?

In the context of an elderly client presenting with low blood pressure and poor skin turgor, an increased serum hematocrit is indicative of dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, there is a reduction in plasma volume while the number of red blood cells remains relatively constant, which results in a higher concentration of red blood cells in the blood. This leads to an increase in the hematocrit level.

Dehydration is commonly seen in older adults for various reasons, including inadequate fluid intake, changes in thirst perception, or illness impacting hydration status. The body's compensatory mechanisms can include increasing hematocrit in response to diminished fluid volume. Therefore, an increase in serum hematocrit effectively reflects the physiological response to a state of dehydration, which aligns with the observed symptoms of low blood pressure and poor skin turgor characteristic of this condition.

Other laboratory results, such as serum electrolytes, would not necessarily show normal levels in the context of dehydration, and an increased white blood cell count would suggest an immune response, which is not specifically related to hydration status.