Dehydration is a common problem faced by our loved ones.
Dehydration is a severe condition that can create many secondary complications. Getting our loved ones to drink more fluids is not easy. And it sometimes becomes a daunting task to get them to drink enough water throughout the day. Dealing with this day out and being careful not to irritate many other conditions any further can cause strain on you as the caregiver. Here are some great books to help you now.
Dehydration in our loved ones – causes explained.
In simple terms, dehydration occurs when the water intake is much less than the fluid output. Such a problem causes the electrolyte balance inside our body to get disturbed. Giving rise to various conditions, some of which are more severe. On the other hand, young individuals can correct regular dehydration by drinking more fluids. However, dehydration in our loved ones can indicate a much more severe condition.
Factors that give rise to dehydration for our loved ones:
- As we age, our thirst mechanism does not seem to work as efficiently as it used to. Furthermore, as age advances, our loved ones are not urged to drink more water due to decreased thirst. The natural thirst response, a dry mouth, is also not much experienced by our loved ones.
- With age, the physical activity of our loved ones decreases to a great extent. As a result, it causes them to feel less thirsty. Also, as mobility falls, less physical activity does not cause water loss through sweat, causing little water intake.
- Certain medications taken for various conditions cause dehydration in our loved ones. Some of these medicines may act as diuretics. They are pushing the seniors to lose more water through urine.
- Illnesses and certain conditions may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Unfortunately, this is also a significant cause of causing dehydration in our loved ones.
Recognize the early signs of dehydration.
Failure to do so can increase the risk of developing significant problems, such like:
- kidney stones
- constipation
- urinary tract infection
- respiratory tract infection
In addition, if your loved one has to go to the hospital due to dehydration. Then it would mean an extended stay in a rehabilitation center. Noticing early signs of dehydration is difficult. However, the following list can help recognize the condition early and take appropriate steps.
Signs of dehydration in the elderly
- Walking becomes difficult
- Mouth and or nose becomes dry as well as sticky
- Urinary output decreases to a great extent
- Onset of constipation
- The skin turns dry, and the eyes sink into
- Confusion, irritability, and dizziness sets in
- Frequent headaches
- Heart rate increases and blood pressure drops
- The decrease in sweat production
- Severe cramps in legs
- Convulsions
- Weakness
- Poor skin elasticity is very difficult to notice in our loved ones. However, if you pinch their skin, the skin doesn’t become normal immediately. This is a clear sign that dehydration has set in.
Getting our loved ones to drink water becomes a difficult task.
When your loved ones drink enough fluids throughout the day, they spend less time in the toilet. This is because they do not suffer from constipation. And in the process also do not have to take laxatives, which dehydrate them—another critical fact, by drinking eight ounces of water daily. As a result, our loved ones are at less risk of contracting coronary disease. Considering these benefits, getting our loved ones to drink more water is better. The following tips for preventing dehydration can be of help.
Tips to prevent dehydration in our loved ones
- Instead of consuming large amounts of water at one time. You can encourage your loved ones to keep drinking water throughout the day. You can save a water bottle nearby. So that poor mobility issues do not restrict your aging parent from getting enough water throughout the day.
- Caffeinated drinks have a diuretic effect on the body. And Therefore, our loved ones should not drink them. A cup or two of coffee or tea is fine, but restrict alcohol and coffee in excess.
- Our loved ones often do not enjoy the taste of plain water. Therefore, giving them fluids from milk, herbal teas, and fruit juices is necessary.
- Increase the intake of fruit and vegetables. This will improve the intake of fluids. You can also encourage the consumption of yogurt and soups to improve your daily water intake.
- Our loved ones often avoid drinking water due to fear of incontinence. Unfortunately, incontinence is a common problem in old age. And the fear of soiling one’s undergarments prevents our loved ones from drinking enough water. Therefore, as caregivers, you can help your loved one deal with it more comfortably by addressing the issue of incontinence. For example, we drink more water during the day and less before bed at night. Furthermore, using incontinence–friendly undergarments would also help our loved ones feel less stressed about urine leakage. In addition, you can also instill the habit of visiting the toilet before sleeping to avoid incontinence during the night.
Conclusion
The tips mentioned above can be of some help to caregivers to get their loved ones to stay well hydrated. Urging our loved ones to drink more water throughout the day may seem to be a difficult task. For more information, check out this site. Also, check out this post on proper nutrition and urinary tract infections. Finally, Getting your loved one to drink enough liquids can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. With the appropriate knowledge, you can do this. Remember to care for yourself and keep your business going while caregiving. I’m here to assist you on this journey; schedule your planning session with me so we can look at how to keep your life and your business running smoothly.
