Senior Hydration

Home Care Blog>In Home Care  |  July 31, 2020

Senior Hydration

Senior Hydration: Staying hydrated is a crucial part of good health. And sometimes, it can be tough to keep seniors hydrated. This is because as we get older, we lose some of our sense of thirst and our ability to notice when we’re too hot. Plus, many seniors take medications that are dehydrating, which means that they should be keeping an extra close eye on their hydration. Dehydration can be a serious medical emergency in seniors, which is why it’s so important to keep your loved one hydrated.

Signs of Dehydration in Seniors

Common signs of dehydration include weakness, fatigue, dry mouth, headaches, low blood pressure, and in severe cases, the inability to sweat. One great way to keep track of hydration is urine color. Light or pale yellow urine indicates good hydration, while darker urine indicates dehydration. Some seniors may take medications that change urine color, so be sure to note that. You can also tell whether someone is dehydrated by pinching the skin on the back of their hand and seeing how fast it snaps back. If the skin stays in that pinched position for longer than usual, your senior is very likely dehydrated.

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Keeping Seniors Hydrated

One way that you can keep your loved one hydrated is by educating them about proper hydration and reminding them to drink water. Encourage them to carry a water bottle with them or keep water bottles in places they most commonly spend their time so that they can remember to drink throughout the day. It’s much easier for seniors to drink a little bit throughout the day than to have a large glass all at once.

You can also encourage seniors to stay hydrated by suggesting that they eat foods high in water. Things like celery, apples, or oranges are great choices. Popsicles, herbal tea, and sports drinks can be good choices as well, especially if your senior doesn’t like regular water.

Finally, do your best to keep them in a cool, air conditioned place. If their home doesn’t currently have air conditioning, consider getting some fans or portable air conditioning units to help them cool down. If they are outside, make sure they’re staying hydrated and resting in the shade when needed.

Comfort Keepers Can Help

At Comfort Keepers, we offer in-home caregiving services to seniors who want to live independently in their own homes. Our caregivers can provide a number of services to help your loved one stay healthy, including making sure that they stay hydrated.

If you’re interested in our services at Comfort Keepers, contact us at our Calgary location today so that we can get started on creating a specialized care plan for your senior. We look forward to meeting you and your loved one!

Bonus Article: Custom In-Home Senior Care

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