When it comes to dehydration and your aging adult, preventing dehydration is the best option. The more that you learn about helping your elderly family member stay hydrated the more effective your plan for avoiding dehydration can be.
Senior Care in Islip NY: Preventing Dehydration
Know the Signs of Elderly Dehydration.
Dehydration may look a little different for your elderly family member than it does for someone younger. Some of the signs, such as the inability to sweat or to cry and low urinary output, are universal. Your elderly family member might also become confused or have trouble walking or talking to you. Her heart rate might increase or she might become dizzy. Extreme dehydration may even cause her to lose consciousness.
Track Her Food and Drink.
Foods that have plenty of natural water content, such as fruits and vegetables, are excellent choices for helping your senior stay hydrated. This is especially helpful if she doesn’t enjoy drinking water. Foods that have high water content, such as broth-based soups, are also very hydrating. It’s important to know what your elderly family member is eating and drinking, so keeping a log can help. Let senior care providers and other family members know what you’re doing so they can help you to keep track.
Talk with Her Doctor.
Contrary to common belief, the old saying about eight glasses of water each day isn’t entirely accurate. Everyone needs slightly more or slightly less water than that per day, depending on their own individual needs. To help your elderly family member keep up with what she needs, you’ll need to talk with her doctor. From there, you can set a plan in motion that can will help her to stay well hydrated.
Stay Proactive about Hydration.
When you know what to look for in terms of dehydration, you’re tracking your senior’s intake, and you’ve worked out how much hydration she needs, you can start to be proactive about keeping your senior hydrated. Taking action before she develops dehydration ensures that your senior doesn’t have to suffer any ill-effects.
As you and your elderly family member learn more about keeping her properly hydrated, you’ll develop a better understanding of your senior’s individual needs when it comes to hydration.
If you or an aging family member are considering professional senior care in Islip, NY, please call the caring staff at A Gentle Touch Senior Home and Health Care at 631-647-7622 today.