Elderly Care Nassau County NY
Dehydration can be a tremendous problem for your elderly loved one and as her family caregiver, it can be tough to win the water battle. Try some of these ideas for increasing your loved one's water intake.
Keep Water Available All Day
If you can keep a bottle or glass of water near your loved one all day, that can be enough to help remind her to drink more often. Keeping the water chilled can also help since many people prefer water to be cooler than room temperature. If that's the case for your loved one, try using two different water bottles and swap them out in the fridge as one warms up.
Try Offering Sparkling Water or Adding Citrus
Some people really have a difficult time with the flavor of water. If that's the case for your loved one, adding a little bit of fresh lime or lemon juice can help. You may also want to try sparkling waters now and again for a little bit of variety. Try to avoid flavored waters that add a lot of artificial flavors or sugar since those aren't really what your loved one needs in order to stay hydrated.
Opt for Foods that Contain Plenty of Water
If your loved one really doesn't like drinking water and it's becoming a fight, look for foods that offer plenty of water. Soups that have a base of mostly broth are a good choice as are fruits and vegetables that have high water content, like cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce, and tomatoes. You can also try making frozen treats from pureed fruits and vegetables to see if those inspire your loved one a bit.
Prompt Your Loved One Often to Drink
Your loved one may need some occasional prompts throughout the day to remember to drink. It's difficult for people of any age to remember to drink water when they're busy and the same can be true for your elderly loved one. Try making a game out of drinking water or setting up a reward system for drinking a set amount of water.
Offer Extra Water with Medications
When your loved one takes oral medications, make sure that you offer her a full glass of water. This not only helps to ensure that her medications are easy to swallow, but it's an excellent way to get another glass of water into her system.
As your loved one gets more accustomed to drinking plenty of water, it becomes easier for her to continue drinking water regularly.