Home Sweet Home In-Home Care explains chronic senior dehydration.Do you realize…roughly half of all older adults are chronically under-hydrated, as reported by a recent scientific study conducted at UCLA? Not only that, but older adults over age 65 account for the highest category of hospital admissions as a consequence of dehydration.
Dehydration can very quickly sneak up on older adults, who oftentimes have a minimized sensation of thirst, who can experience medication side effects that can cause hydration problems, or who incorrectly believe that drinking less will prevent incontinence issues.
Senior dehydration is extremely unsafe, raising the risk for health concerns including:
- UTIs
- Kidney stones and/or failure
- Blood clots
- Seizures
- Hypovolemic shock
- And numerous others
Dehydration is generally detected according to the following symptoms:
First stages:
- Decreased amount/darker-colored urine
- Dry mouth
- Feelings of weakness, dizziness, and/or lower energy
- Muscle cramps
- Irritability
Advanced stages:
- Confusion and disorientation, including problems with walking
- Low blood pressure levels and weakened, faster pulse and breathing
- Stomach bloating
- Sunken, dry eyes
- Skin that is wrinkled with no elasticity
- Worsened muscle cramps and contractions, and/or convulsions
Although we frequently pay more attention to hydration when the temperature is elevated, it is essential for seniors to consume sufficient fluids all through the year. An effective formula to find out just how much, generally, a senior ought to drink each day is to divide the older adult’s body weight by 3, and consume that many ounces of water. To illustrate, if a senior weighs 180 pounds, she or he would need to have no less than 60 ounces of water every single day.
Try these tips to help keep seniors healthy and hydrated:
- Plain water is best, but think about other sources of fluids, such as soup, juice, fruits, and vegetables. That said, eliminate, sugary and caffeinated beverages.
- Place bottled water, or a small pitcher of ice water and cup, near the senior to encourage him or her to sip on it through the day.
- Try different temperatures. Perhaps a warmed cup of water would be more soothing than an icy one. You can also try warming up juice and various other beverages to determine if they’re more appealing, or offer popsicles.
Our professional in-home caregivers are experienced in imaginative ways to help ward off dehydration in elderly loved ones, along with monitoring fluid intake to make sure adequate fluids are consumed daily. Contact Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, the expert providers of senior care Battle Creek, MI and other Michigan communities depend on, at (269) 763-5350 in Paw Paw, (269) 849-9252 in St. Joseph, (269) 373-5444 in Kalamazoo or (269) 963-9888 in Battle Creek to find out exactly how we can help improve the health of seniors, right within the convenience and familiarity of home. Visit our Locations page for a full list of the communities we serve.