Why Staying Hydrated Is So Important For Seniors, According to Home Care Providers

It’s no secret that drinking enough water is one of the key ways to ensure good health. But as you get older, staying hydrated becomes even more important. According to the National Institutes of Health, “inadequate hydration in the elderly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.” As your body gets older and your immune system gets weaker, staying hydrated is especially important. If you or a loved one is getting older and wondering why hydration is so important, here are some tips and pieces of advice from home care providers.

Your sense of thirst gets more skewed the older you get

One of the easiest and most reliable ways to tell that you are dehydrated is that you feel thirsty. It seems simple, but for seniors, feeling “thirsty” is an increasingly fleeting feeling. If you or a loved one is a senior citizen worried about staying hydrated, be sure to look for more signs of dehydration than just thirst. 

Bathroom issues can make seniors reluctant to drink enough water

If you or a loved one suffers from ailments related to your bladder, it’s easy to try and “fix” the problem by not drinking as much water. Though your bladder symptoms will be reduced, home care providers say not drinking enough water will eventually catch up to you and cause severe dehydration. Take your illnesses seriously, but don’t let the way you treat one illness cause issues in other areas of your life.

Try to avoid alcohol and caffeine if possible

Avoid booze and coffee - it’s easier said than done! But health professionals agree: limiting your intake of alcohol and caffeine will reduce your chances of experiencing dehydration. In addition to causing other health issues unrelated to hydration, booze and caffeine can cause dehydration to happen at a quicker rate than you might be expecting.

Drinking small amounts of water throughout the day adds up

If you never feel thirsty, and drinking water feels more like a chore than not, drinking small amounts of water throughout the day can help. Home care providers say drinking 6 or 8 ounces of water at several points throughout the day can help you get properly hydrated without making you feel like you’re chugging water all day. If you’re taking care of someone who has issues with hydration, prepare small amounts of water for them throughout the day and make sure they drink it.

Drink more water than you’re used to when you’re sick

Nobody wants to be sick, but if you or a loved one is, be sure to keep a close eye on your hydration. Getting enough fluids is essential when you’re sick, and it’s even more important when you get older. Seniors should pay close attention to the medications they’re taking and make sure that they aren’t making them even more dehydrated than before. If you’re sick, be sure to drink enough water each day for a quick recovery.