The need to stay hydrated doesn’t decrease as we age but many seniors drink less and less as they age. There are a lot of reasons why it’s harder for seniors to stay hydrated as they age, like fear of accidental falling or worsened bladder control.

Staying hydrated is important for everybody because our body and organs need water to function properly. Find below some of the signs of dehydration, and what you can do to make sure that your seniors stay hydrated:

Signs of Dehydration

Don’t wait until your senior complaints of thirst because thirst isn’t always a reliable measure of the body’s need for water, especially for children and seniors. A better indicator for the lack of water in your body is the colour of your urine: clear or light-coloured urine means you’re well-hydrated, and dark yellow urine is usually the sign of dehydration.

Other than that, some of the signs of dehydration are:

• Decreased urine output
• Extreme thirst
• Constipation
• Headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Dry, sticky mouth
• Rapid heartbeat/breathing
• Low blood pressure
• No tears when crying
• In more serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness

Help Your Seniors Stay Hydrated

• Try drinking water fused with either lime, lemon, or orange wedges – tasty, fresh, and can help your seniors (or yourself) stay hydrated throughout the whole day
• If your seniors are into iced tea, hot tea, or coffee, suggest them to go with the decaffeinated version of those drinks.
• Encourage your seniors to consume fruit juices, milk, and vegetable juices at meals instead of regular coffee or tea
• Use fresh fruits, especially those containing higher water content such as watermelons and grapes, as snacks or light meals throughout the day
• Include soup in their daily diet, preferably lower sodium versions
• When your senior uses the bathroom, ask them to drink some water afterwards to replace the loss
• Keep a pitcher in the refrigerator with the day’s allotment of water. You will know how much more is needed to get enough and check if your senior is drinking enough
• Be sure your senior drinks enough water with their medications

Want more information on how you can get your seniors to stay hydrated and healthy? Need help with senior caregiving? Contact one of our friendly office staffs today to receive your free, no-obligation senior care consultation.

Thanks for reading through this Blog, I hope you have found it useful. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact the office.

Kind regards,

Suzanne McLoughlin
Owner of Home Instead Senior Care Outer East

P.S. We provide free Care Consultations and resource guides to support and guide families. Download your free copies from our Aged Care Resources page or Request a Free Information Pack to receive a hard copy.