Staying Hydrated: A Guide for Elderly Care
Written by Adilla Hamdani
Hello there! As your friendly local care provider in Reading, Berkshire, we truly understand the unique challenges our elderly clients face. One crucial aspect of maintaining health and well-being, especially in the summer, is staying hydrated. Dehydration can be quite serious, particularly for older adults. So, let’s talk about why staying hydrated is so important, who’s at risk, and some practical, straightforward tips to keep dehydration at bay.
Risks of Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. This can lead to a host of health issues, including:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Not drinking enough can lead to reduced urine output, upping the risk of UTIs. Trust us, those are very uncomfortable.
Infections: Your immune system needs plenty of fluids to stay strong. Without enough water, you’re more likely to catch whatever bug is going around.
Poor Well-Being: Dehydration can make you feel dizzy, confused, and just plain tired, which can really put a damper on your day.
Kidney Stones: Insufficient fluid intake can lead to the formation of kidney stones, which can cause severe pain and require medical intervention.
Constipation: Dehydration can slow down the digestive process, leading to constipation, which can be quite uncomfortable and affect overall health.
Heat Exhaustion: Especially relevant in the summer, dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion, characterised by heavy sweating, weakness, and in severe cases, heat stroke.
Who’s at Risk?
Some people are more likely to get dehydrated, including:
Elderly Individuals: As we get older, our sense of thirst diminishes. Plus, certain medications and health conditions can make it easier to get dehydrated.
People with Chronic Illnesses: Conditions like diabetes and kidney disease can interfere with your fluid balance.
Individuals with Mobility Issues: If getting around is tough, getting a drink can be tough too.
Practical Tips to Stay Hydrated
So, how can we keep our elderly loved ones hydrated? Here are some simple, no-fuss tips:
Regular Fluid Intake: Encourage sipping water throughout the day, even if they’re not thirsty. Little and often is the key.
Hydrating Foods: Munch on fruits and veggies with high water content, like watermelon, oranges, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Monitor Fluid Intake: Keep an eye on how much their fluid intake is to make sure they’re getting enough.
Accessible Drinks: Ensure drinks are always within easy reach, especially for those with mobility issues.
Variety of Fluids: Mix it up with water, herbal teas, and low-sugar fruit juices to keep things interesting.
Jelly Drops: These nifty water-based jelly sweets are both fun and hydrating. More on them in a sec!
Elsie’s Experience
Let’s talk about Elsie, an 82-year-old dynamo from Reading. Her family noticed she was a bit more forgetful and unsteady than usual. Turns out, she was dehydrated.
Practical Measures for Elsie:
Daily Routine: Elsie’s carer set up a routine where she drank a glass of water with every meal and snack. They also set reminders on her phone to nudge her to take a sip every few hours.
Hydrating Snacks: Elsie loves watermelon slices and cucumber sticks, which help her stay hydrated without feeling like she’s always drinking.
Accessible Water: A lightweight, easy-to-open water bottle is always within Elsie’s reach, whether she’s in the living room, bedroom, or garden.
Jelly Drops: Elsie found Jelly Drops both tasty and fun. These water-based jelly sweets not only keep her hydrated but also add a bit of joy to her day.
Thanks to these simple changes, Elsie’s hydration levels improved, and so did her overall well-being. She felt more energetic, her confusion lessened, and she was much steadier with her mobility.
Jelly Drops: A Cool Hydration Solution
Jelly Drops are pretty brilliant. Created by Lewis Hornby, these little jelly sweets are packed with water (about 90%) and are designed to help people stay hydrated in a fun way. They’re especially great for folks who might struggle with drinking enough water, like the elderly or those with dementia. Plus, they’re sugar-free and come in a range of fruity flavours.
Additional Resources
For more tips on preventing dehydration, check out these UK-based resources:
NHS UK: https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/hydration/
Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/salford/about-us/improving-nutrition-and-hydration/drinking-well/
British Dietetic Association: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/fluid-water-drinks.html
Jelly Drops: https://www.jellydrops.com/
At Apex Healthcare Services Limited, we’re all about helping our clients stay happy and healthy at home. For more info on how we can support you or your loved one, check out our services page https://www.apexcare.info
Staying hydrated is a small step that makes a huge difference. Let’s keep our elderly loved ones safe, happy, and hydrated this summer!
