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Why Hydration is Important to Older Adults Dehydration, especially in hot and humid conditions like those found in Florida, is a significant health risk for older adults.

Health consequences of dehydration can include: Constipation Electrolyte imbalances Kidney problems Loss of balance Exacerbation of cognitive decline Low blood pressure Weakness Pressure sores Urinary tract infections Mood changes Shock Dehydration is associated with six times greater risk of in-hospital mortality than those who are not dehydrated.

Why Hydration in Older Adults is a Problem If we know that hydration is a problem for older adults, why does the problem persist? Dehydration goes unrecognized Misdiagnosis of dehydration No one to regularly monitor intake Lack of thirst mechanism Poor nutrition Inability to communicate thirst Declining kidney function Fewer water reserves as you age Medication side effects Management of hydration needs requires close and careful monitoring.

Dangers of Dehydration on Those With dementia If you have a loved one with dementia , the challenges of keeping them hydrated increases significantly, especially if they live at home. Hydration Requirements for Older Adults The most accepted hydration requirement recommended by medical professionals is glasses of water daily.

But there are mitigating factors to consider before adopting this rule: Body weight Altitude and climate Medical conditions Dietary constraints Exercise habits The best way to gauge hydration requirements for your loved one is to talk with their physician.

Recommended Foods for Hydration In assisted living and memory care, nutrition and hydration are carefully managed as part of a thoughtfully planned dining program. To get started at home, here are a few fruits and vegetables with high water content: Cantaloupe Strawberries Watermelon Lettuce Cabbage Bell peppers Cucumbers Celery Spinach Apples Oranges Peaches Zucchini Your loved one may not want to eat simple raw vegetables and fruit, so you may need to take a creative approach to make these foods appealing.

Try these creative approaches to improve hydration in older adults: Make a smoothie with veggies and banana — A simple blender can handle the duties of blending greens, carrots, bananas, and other fruit.

Throw in some protein powder as well. Create a fresh fruit salad — Fresh fruit salads with watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries are refreshing and will provide a hefty dose of water. Use cucumbers or peppers for dips — Replace chips with fresh cucumbers and peppers for dipping hummus, guacamole, and yogurt-based dips.

Make a salad topped with fruit — A salad topped with strawberries, apples, oranges, or other fruit can liven up a bland vegetable dish. Grill veggies — Grilling with some light olive oil and herbs make vegetables more appealing and easier to chew. Schedule a visit to Sonata Senior Living to learn more about our person-centered approach to assisted living care.

Being properly hydrated is also needed for certain medications to work. To make it easier to keep your older adult hydrated, we share 6 creative tips for getting seniors to drink more water.

Coffee, tea, fruit juice, sweetened beverages, fruits, and vegetables all contain water. If dehydration is a serious issue for your older adult, but they really resist drinking healthy fluids, it may be necessary to make trade-offs like allowing them to drink less healthy options like sugary drinks or diet soda.

To be sure that the pros outweigh the cons and their overall health will benefit, speak with their doctor. Or, try serving more foods with high water content to increase hydration without drinking fluids.

Keep water close by at all times Sometimes, making it easy for seniors to serve themselves could encourage them to drink more water. Try keeping a lightweight pitcher of water and a cup near their favorite seat to make it quick and convenient to take a drink.

Experiment with beverages at different temperatures Your senior may prefer hot drinks to cold, or the other way around. Experiment to find out which type they like better.

Try different things like warming up juices, making decaf iced coffee with cream, or adding plain soda water to make tea or juice bubbly. Try something savory Those who like savory foods may enjoy drinking hot soup broth instead of a sweet or neutral tasting beverage.

For convenience, the broth could come from a can, box, or powder. And if your older adult is watching their sodium intake, make sure to get a low sodium broth or consider making homemade broth. Make popsicles Homemade popsicles made from fruit juice or a mix of juice and water are a great treat and a great way to get more fluids into your older adult.

Offer smoothies, milkshakes, Ensure, sports drinks Some stubborn older adults may really resist drinking fluids. If they like the flavor or texture of these options, they may be more willing to drink them regularly.

My mom is 95, has dementia and a hiatal hernia. She has been hospitalized a couple times in the past month due to her hernia and UTI. We have to be very careful with what we feed her.

One thing that has helped is we set an alarm every two hours to retrain her bladder. A straw definitely helps with liquid. Thanks for sharing your experience and these great tips! My 95 year old mother is in the later stages of dementia and finds it difficult to drink at all, but she manages better when I give her a straw.

When blending, I use fresh pressed juice to thin the smoothie down to milkshake consistency. The strongest flavours come from the strawberries and pineapple, so despite the colour of the smoothies, they taste very nice. Even though she only sips other drinks, my mother actually guzzles these smoothies down when using a straw.

Thanks for sharing beautiful ideas which are helpful a lot for seniors. These ideas really makes sense. For some older adults, sports drinks could be harmful to their bodies. Many seniors really like creamed spinach. If your mom does that would be a way to get healthy dark greens into her.

The chat a few moments, provide a hot meal, and are sure she is up and about. Contact your local senior center — lots of free resources available. Yes, Meals on Wheels is a very good option … as long as they eat everything that is delivered to them.

Smoothies are extremely beneficial. I use kefir, which is not only high in probiotics but also does not negatively affect people with lactose intolerance. She loves the tast of them. Frozen bananas make them creamy and delicious. Major point by Dr. My wife, 76, without speech due to small strokes, got very dehydrated,in part because of a UTI, which made her not want to drink.

But a UTI, or incontinence, or difficulty getting to the toilet—the ones doctor cited—may well be the problem. If the person has a sensory disability like hearing or sight loss they are at even greater risk of getting delirium. The longer that goes undiagnosed and untreated the more permanent harm it can do.

It can definitely be tough to get someone with dementia to drink enough liquids. Enhance Metabolism Seniors also metabolize water differently than younger individuals.

Boost Brain Function Staying hydrated is important for mental function as the body and brain are mainly comprised of water. Maintain Urinary Health Some seniors face urinary incontinence.

Better Digestive Health Hydration is the key to digestive health. Ways to Help the Elderly in Winter National Nutrition Month Related Posts Informational Combating Loneliness In Assisted Living. Informational Healthy Holiday Recipes For Our Senior Residents.

Older adults are more prone to becoming dehydrated for a number of reasons, including a diminished sense of thirst. Finding simple ways to increase your water intake can help you avoid the complications of dehydration and stay healthy. Water isn't just a refreshing thirst-quencher. Staying hydrated is a key part of maintaining good health.

Being hydrated simply means that your body has enough fluids to function properly. According to the American Heart Association , the amount of water each person needs can vary.

This can lead to health complications ranging from mild to life-threatening, such as urinary tract infections UTIs , heat stroke, heart problems, kidney failure, and blood clot complications.

Additionally—according to a recent study—older adults' bodies don't regulate temperature as efficiently as those of younger people. Even mild dehydration can cause an array of uncomfortable and debilitating symptoms. Understanding the warning signs can help you take action before the situation becomes severe.

The tiredness and lack of coordination that may result from dehydration can also lead to falls and injury. The best way to prevent dehydration is the simplest: drink more water throughout the day.

As a general rule, you should take one-third of your body weight and drink that number of ounces in fluids. For example, if you weigh pounds, aim to drink 50 ounces of water each day.

Certain medications cause the body to flush out more water. And some medical conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, also make people more prone to dehydration. There are simple steps you can take to get the water your body craves.

Below are some ideas to get you started:. Choose foods with high water content. If you have trouble drinking fluids, try including water-rich foods with every meal.

These include cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and celery. Soups, broths and stews are also a good way to boost your fluid intake, especially in the colder weather.

Keep water with you, always. Having hydration at your fingertips can make it easier to get the right amount of fluids.

Carry a refillable water bottle with you wherever you go, or keep a lightweight water pitcher and cup near your favorite chair at home. Avoid or reduce your alcohol intake. You might assume that your sedentary parent or loved one consumes more water than they could possibly lose in a day.

But that is simply not the case. Dehydration is common in seniors, regardless if they use a wheelchair or are up and moving on their own. Find a community near you to schedule a tour and see the level of care we provide our residents for yourself.

Constance Schein is a registered nurse with more than 25 years of nursing experience in senior-focused healthcare organizations. The Importance of Staying Hydrated. Posted by Constance Schein, RN. on February 28, Healthy Aging.

Signs of dehydration to look for in older adults: Dry skin or cracked lips Confusion Fatigue Mobility difficulty Dizziness Dry mouth Sunken eyes Inability to sweat or produce tears Rapid heart rate Low blood pressure 5 reasons seniors needs H2O: As we age, several physiological changes can put seniors at a higher risk of dehydration, such as increased fluid loss, reduced body water content, and a decrease in fluid consumption.

How Can I Help My Loved One Stay Hydrated? Here are a few helpful tips to keep your loved one fully hydrated: What do they like?

Provide your elderly loved one with plenty of fluids throughout the day that appeal to them. These can include flavored water, plain water, juices, or smoothies. And even coffee and tea are largely made up of water although some have caffeine , but they can help hydrate to some degree.

Especially during the warmer months, encourage them to drink small quantities more often throughout the day. Fruits and vegetables are a terrific way to sneak in some added water. Cucumbers, watermelons, grapefruit, strawberries, celery, pineapple, kale, lettuce, grapes, and tomatoes are great options.

Vegetable broth or soups are great with a meal or as a snack to replenish their hydration. Create Opportunity. Try to strategically place a water bottle or cup next to their bed or favorite chair to remind them to drink liquids.

Assist seniors throughout the day who cannot drink independently. And when you leave the house together, remember to bring with you a bottle of water or juice for your elderly loved one to sip. Set a Timer. If your loved one has dementia you should monitor them closely.

You may need to remind them to drink throughout the day and track their consumption. To be sure that the pros outweigh the cons and their overall health will benefit, speak with their doctor.

Or, try serving more foods with high water content to increase hydration without drinking fluids. Keep water close by at all times Sometimes, making it easy for seniors to serve themselves could encourage them to drink more water.

Try keeping a lightweight pitcher of water and a cup near their favorite seat to make it quick and convenient to take a drink. Experiment with beverages at different temperatures Your senior may prefer hot drinks to cold, or the other way around.

Experiment to find out which type they like better. Try different things like warming up juices, making decaf iced coffee with cream, or adding plain soda water to make tea or juice bubbly. Try something savory Those who like savory foods may enjoy drinking hot soup broth instead of a sweet or neutral tasting beverage.

For convenience, the broth could come from a can, box, or powder. And if your older adult is watching their sodium intake, make sure to get a low sodium broth or consider making homemade broth. Make popsicles Homemade popsicles made from fruit juice or a mix of juice and water are a great treat and a great way to get more fluids into your older adult.

Offer smoothies, milkshakes, Ensure, sports drinks Some stubborn older adults may really resist drinking fluids. If they like the flavor or texture of these options, they may be more willing to drink them regularly.

My mom is 95, has dementia and a hiatal hernia. She has been hospitalized a couple times in the past month due to her hernia and UTI. We have to be very careful with what we feed her. One thing that has helped is we set an alarm every two hours to retrain her bladder. A straw definitely helps with liquid.

Thanks for sharing your experience and these great tips! My 95 year old mother is in the later stages of dementia and finds it difficult to drink at all, but she manages better when I give her a straw. When blending, I use fresh pressed juice to thin the smoothie down to milkshake consistency.

The strongest flavours come from the strawberries and pineapple, so despite the colour of the smoothies, they taste very nice.

Even though she only sips other drinks, my mother actually guzzles these smoothies down when using a straw. Thanks for sharing beautiful ideas which are helpful a lot for seniors. These ideas really makes sense. For some older adults, sports drinks could be harmful to their bodies.

Many seniors really like creamed spinach. If your mom does that would be a way to get healthy dark greens into her. The chat a few moments, provide a hot meal, and are sure she is up and about.

Contact your local senior center — lots of free resources available. Yes, Meals on Wheels is a very good option … as long as they eat everything that is delivered to them. Smoothies are extremely beneficial.

I use kefir, which is not only high in probiotics but also does not negatively affect people with lactose intolerance. She loves the tast of them. Frozen bananas make them creamy and delicious. Major point by Dr. My wife, 76, without speech due to small strokes, got very dehydrated,in part because of a UTI, which made her not want to drink.

But a UTI, or incontinence, or difficulty getting to the toilet—the ones doctor cited—may well be the problem. If the person has a sensory disability like hearing or sight loss they are at even greater risk of getting delirium.

The longer that goes undiagnosed and untreated the more permanent harm it can do. It can definitely be tough to get someone with dementia to drink enough liquids. That might make it a little easier to keep him well hydrated.

Sometimes my father has difficuly swallowing liquids but not solids so we freeze ensure in popsicle trays and he enjoys them! We also give him lots of melon and especially watermelon.

Great ideas!