Dehydration is one of the most common problems in the elderly. Some elderly people forget to drink water and others don’t care much about drinking water. They would rather have soda or other drinks. If you are a family caregiver, it is important that you help keep your elderly loved one hydrated. If you can’t do this often enough, you can hire elder care providers to remind your loved one to stay hydrated.
Here are some ways that you and elder care providers can help your elderly loved one to stay hydrated.
Drinking Smaller Amounts
Sometimes, when elderly people are told how much water they should be drinking daily (half their body weight in ounces of water), they get overwhelmed. If this is the case for your elderly loved one, you should remind them it is okay to take smaller amounts at a time. For instance, they can have a few drinks at a time throughout the course of the day. By the end of the day, they will have drank enough water to stay hydrated.
Avoiding Other Drinks
While it is so important for your elderly loved one to drink enough water, they also need to avoid certain other drinks. There are drinks such as high-protein shakes, alcohol, and coffee that can actually dehydrate your elderly loved one. If they are already dehydrated and they drink these things, it can make things much worse. You should remind your elderly loved one to avoid drinks that are diuretics and drink more water instead.
Easy Access to Water
Some elderly people don’t drink enough water because they don’t have easy access to it. For instance, if the only water your elderly loved one has is in the kitchen, they might not want to get up and go get it throughout the day. However, if you put a bottle of water in every room of their house, that will make it so much easier for them to get a drink of water. You or an elder care provider should put a bottle of water on all of your elderly loved one’s nightstands, tables, and counters.
Healthy Foods
Your elderly loved one can stay hydrated by eating the right foods, as well. Certain vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and other foods have water in them. If your elderly loved one eats more of these foods, it can help them to stay hydrated. You or an elder care provider should get your elderly loved one some cranberries, cucumbers, oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes. All of these foods have water in them.
If your elderly loved one isn’t drinking enough water or staying hydrated, it is important to change that. You can start by having them implement even a couple of the tips above to get themselves hydrated.
Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/getting-enough-fluids
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Elder Care Services in Loveland OH, please contact the caring staff at Queen City Elder Care today. Serving Cincinnati and Surrounding Communities. Call Us Today (513) 510-4410.
Michele Vollmer is a visionary leader who is perpetually searching for ways to improve, so to remain at the leading edge of the home care industry.She has served in the healthcare industry since 1989, including pharmaceutical and home health sales, as well as hospice sales and sales management
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