We are all aware of the importance of water, but did you know it is an essential element for good senior care?
Elderly dehydration is a common health problem in the senior community. Here is some helpful information to keep your senior loved ones hydrated, and warning signs that your loved one may be suffering from elderly dehydration.
The Importance of Staying Hydrated
The importance of keeping our bodies hydrated is a well-known fact. Adequate hydration is necessary to keep the human body’s systems running smoothly. Water carries nutrients to our cells, helps to flush out toxins, regulates our temperature, helps maintain our blood pressure, moves our waste, and keeps our tissues and skin moist.
What is Dehydration?
Dehydration is the condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough water to carry out important body functions. Dehydration makes the human body more fragile, drains energy and causes fatigue.
The elderly are more at risk for dehydration due to side effects of medication, decreased thirst, and decreased kidney function due to the aging process. Elderly dehydration, at its most severe, can lead to confusion, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and even death. It is a common cause for hospitalization for seniors.
Keep Your Loved Ones Hydrated
A very important element of a senior’s daily care is keeping hydrated. Contrary to the long-held belief that the human body needs 8 glasses of water per day, current medical wisdom says there is no fixed number — each body is different.
The overall goal for the elderly is to have adequate intake of fluids over the course of the day so that urine color is light, output is consistent, and weight loss is avoided.
Tips for Increasing Hydration
Caregivers can help prevent elderly dehydration by encouraging seniors to increase their water intake throughout the day, and frequently offering sips of favorite beverages, both during and in between meals. These can include coffee, tea, juices, lemonade, milk and soda. (Caffeinated beverages are no longer viewed as dehydrating.)
If plain water is not appetizing, flavored or plain sparkling water can be a nice change of pace. It’s easy to make a spritzer by adding a small amount of juice to sparkling water. Slices of cucumber, lemon, lime, or orange added to chilled water are refreshing ways to provide extra flavor and sweetness.
Fruits (especially watermelon), vegetables, and soups are also good sources of water. You can also increase hydration with water-based treats like popsicles and Jell-O, which are available in many flavors and easy portion sizes.
Consistent access to fluids is important. Especially if mobility is an issue, make sure that a beverage is always in place at your senior’s side, wherever they are seated. Using colorful straws can help facilitate easy drinking. Make it a habit to bring bottled water along whenever leaving the house.
Water for Lasting Health
Frequently drinking water is an affordable, easy way to preserving our health. Prevent elderly dehydration with the above tips and remember to make sure your loved ones get enough fluids to stay in the best physical shape they can.