Regardless of one’s age, dehydration can become a medical emergency. The effects of dehydration may even cause damage to your body before you realize the need to hydrate yourself. Our elderly loved ones are at a greater risk of dehydration compared to their younger counterparts.
We are also at risk of being dehydrated on hot days or after engaging in vigorous exercises. Mild or moderate cases of dehydration are easy to recover from. However, in severe cases of dehydration, one has to seek medical attention immediately. We need to remind our family members to drink more water. If your elderly loved ones do not like to drink water, fret not! Let us share with you how you can encourage them to drink more water.
Consume Fruits and Vegetables with High Water Content
If your loved ones do not like to drink water, you can get them to consume foods that have high water content. Try to offer them fruits as snacks throughout the day. The top vegetables and fruits that have high water content are:
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Oranges
- Cucumbers
- Peaches
- Zucchini
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Bell Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Grapefruit
Do note that the US Food & Drug Administration advises against mixing medications and grapefruit. Grapefruits can block the enzymes required to break down the drug. If the drug is not broken down properly, this could potentially lead to an increase in the amount of medication in the patient’s system, which may lead to harmful side effects. Therefore, remind your loved ones not to consume grapefruit when it’s almost time to take their medication.
Drink Soup as an Alternative to Water
An excellent alternative to water that can keep your loved ones hydrated is soup. Not only does soup provide nutrients for their bodily functions, but it can also be made to taste good. However, your loved ones should avoid consuming canned or pre-packaged soups as these are usually loaded with high levels of sodium.
Sodium can cause dehydration and should be avoided if your loved ones have high blood pressure. Intake of sodium can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, congestive heart failures, kidney damage and strokes. If you intend to offer soup to your loved ones to help them increase their fluid intake, do consider preparing the soup yourself so you can control the amount of salt that is added to it. If preparing soup from scratch is not an option, you should always choose low-sodium broth and soup options.
Prepare Fruit-Based Ice Pops
During hotter seasons such as summer, there is an increased risk of dehydration in the elderly population. You can help your loved ones beat the heat and stay hydrated in fun and delicious ways, such as preparing smoothie ice pops, sorbet or slushies.
One quick, easy recipe for fruit-based ice pops is to fill about half of the ice pop cup with your loved one’s favorite fruit juice. Leave the cup in the freezer until the juice is partially frozen. Then insert an ice pop stick into the cup. Continue freezing the ice pop until it becomes frozen and is ready to be eaten!
Senior Living Programs at Discovery Village At Alliance Town Center
We need to remind our loved ones to increase their fluid intake and consume a more balanced diet to stay healthy. This is especially important if our family members are living on their own. If you worry that your loved ones are not physically able to take care of themselves, perhaps you can suggest the possibility of moving into a senior living community.
At Discovery Village At Alliance Town Center, we provide an array of senior living options for your loved ones. With dedicated team members and medical professionals, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be well-taken care of. If you are interested in our senior living programs, contact us to find out more!
