Choose foods with high water content.
If you have trouble drinking fluids, try including water-rich foods with every meal. These include cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and celery. Soups, broths and stews are also a good way to boost your fluid intake, especially in the colder weather.
Older people have a tendency to become dehydrated, but any older adult who has heart issues, diabetes, kidney disease, or obesity would benefit from drinking water or broth. An occasional bottle of Gatorade is fine, but it contains salt and sugar, both of which can be unhealthy for the cardiovascular system.
If you are mildly dehydrated, you often will start to feel better within 10 to 15 minutes of drinking water, a sports drink, or juice. For moderate dehydration, you typically will be treated with intravenous hydration in urgent care or the emergency room over the course of a few hours or a day.
Negative Consequences of Not Drinking Water
If the body's electrolyte and fluid balances are disrupted, the activity of the heart and brain can be diminished. Other effects from inadequate water intake include heavier breathing, arthritis from poor joint lubrication, muscle soreness, and higher body temperature.
A person can go three days without water. This can be affected by a person's water needs and how they use it.
You should aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Here are some simple tips for making sure you reach your goal and get enough water. Sip on drinks throughout the day. Get a reusable water bottle with a straw and fill it with plain water.
Those in the 65-and-older crowd simply have less water in their bodies than younger adults or children. Decreased kidney function also can affect fluid levels. The reduction in thirst that comes with age can keep that already low supply from being replenished.
Electrolyte drinks are beneficial to pretty much everyone, but they're particularly helpful for seniors who are at a greater risk for dehydration and may struggle to get adequate electrolytes from food sources, such as leafy greens, fruit, meat, nuts, and legumes.
In severe cases, dehydration can lead to shock or even death. If you or your child is vomiting, has a fever, or is unable to urinate, you should go to the ER right away.
The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
The recommended minimum total fluid intake is 1500–2000 mL, (equivalent to 6–8 250 mL cups) a day. This comes from all sources including soups and beverages.
After three to five days of not drinking water, your organs begin to shut down, especially the brain, which could have lethal consequences including fainting, strokes and in extreme cases, even death.
Dehydration: A Common Problem Among Seniors
A common and serious condition in older adults, dehydration can cause severe problems and even result in death if left unchecked.
Some studies have shown that frequent dehydration, even if it's mild, may lead to permanent kidney damage. Dehydration can cause a build-up of wastes and acids in the body, and it can clog the kidneys with muscle proteins (myoglobin). All these things can hurt the kidneys.
Pedialyte. One of the best drinks for the elderly, Pedialyte is an advanced, medical-grade hydration formula. It contains electrolytes, namely potassium, sodium, and chloride to restore the electrolyte balance and prevent dehydration.
Your kidneys send less water to your bladder, darkening your urine. As you sweat less, your body temperature rises. Your blood becomes thicker and sluggish. To maintain oxygen levels, your heart rate increases.
Daily fluid intake
The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.
If the person you are caring for is showing early signs of dehydration, offer them a bottle of water, Gatorade, Powerade or coconut water to replenish their electrolytes quickly.