How Home Care Assistance Can Help Seniors in the California Central Coast Avoid Winter Dehydration

When providing home care assistance for an elderly loved one in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Marina, CA, it’s important to make sure they stay well-hydrated during the winter

Although most people regard dehydration as mostly a summer issue due to increased perspiration, it’s actually important to stay hydrated throughout the year. This is especially true for aging adults along California’s Central Coast, as the risk of dehydration is present even in the winter months. The tricky part is that the causes for fluid loss may still be present during the winter - but with less obvious warning signs. If you are providing home care assistance for a loved one in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Marina and surrounding communities, the following tips can help Mom or Dad prevent and/or combat dehydration.

According to home care assistance experts at Visiting Angels, your loved one may develop a lack of water retention due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Fever caused by the flu
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting caused by a virus
• More frequent urination caused by side effects of certain medicaments
• Diabetes
• The aging process itself may cause a reduced sense of thirst in older adults

The signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

• Unquenchable thirst
• Decreased urine output – urine is smelly and more yellow in color
• Fatigue that can be accompanied by a headache
• Dry nasal passages
• Dry lips, dry mouth, dry eye syndrome, reduced sweating, muscle cramps, vomiting
• Lightheadedness and weakness may occur as the brain and other organs receive less blood
• Organ failure induced coma should dehydration remain untreated
• Anxiety and confusion

Preventing Winter Dehydration with Proactive Home Care Assistance

Our caregivers recommend these six remedies to prevent winter dehydration in your loved one:

1. Fluid replacement therapy – a common treatment for dehydration aimed at replenishing bodily fluids. Encourage Mom or Dad to consume increased quantities of water, juice, soups, clear broth, Popsicles, Jell-O, ice cream, milk, puddings, decaffeinated beverages, Kool-Aid and nutritional drink supplements.  
2. Drinks with dehydrating properties should be reduced or avoided altogether. This includes coffee, tea and all kinds of soft drinks. Alcohol consumption should be cut down or completely eliminated, too.
3. If your loved one still enjoys an occasional soda or soft drink and is not so keen on giving that up, just make sure they add more water to their daily intake.
4. Make sure your loved one introduces increased amounts of fruits and vegetables into their diet. Most fresh green groceries contain high water ratios.
5. Remind Mom or Dad to hydrate often throughout the day but to limit their water intake to small amounts at a time as gulping down 64 ounces of water in one take is not good for them. You can fill one 24-32 ounce tumbler in the morning, refill it around noon, and then refill it again for the afternoon. Make sure they consume that quantity no later than 5 PM. Most seniors should start limiting fluids 1 to 3 hours before bedtime.
6. Use medications to control symptoms in your loved one and minimize water loss. Our home care assistance experts recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen to be used to control fever. If the symptoms do not withdraw, seek medical attention.

Visiting Angels Central Coast provides quality senior care for older adults throughout Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Marina and surrounding communities. Contact our Scotts Valley office to learn more.