Mr. Higgins was a true gentleman. Unlike most of our residents, he preferred to wear a suit amd tie every day, and his gentle manner made him a favourite with all. Although he’d spent most of his life indoors at his business office, I persuaded him to come out to our central garden one beautiful day for some fresh air and sunshine. He smiled and chatted with the others until I noticed him swaying in his chair and looking confused. I quickly helped him indoors, where the air conditioning and a glass of water revived him. In his heavy suit jacket, he had become overheated and dehydrated in minutes, and had given me a fright and a lesson.
With all the opportunities for fun outdoors this summer, there needs to be some cautions. Hats are important when in direct sunshine, as is sunscreen. Hydration should always be at the forefront.
How much?
Although 6-8 glasses of water a day is recommended, this can change based on activity levels and health. Many medications, such as diuretics given for heart issues, can affect hydration and make it even more important to stay hydrated.
It’s a constant problem. Elders often don’t feel thirsty, don’t remember to drink (or don’t 
want to) and are usually borderline dehydrated. Where I worked, drinks were offered at each meal, and a nourishment cart went room-to-room mid-morning, mid-afternoon and before bed. In summer, a large decanter of water and fresh fruit was available at all times. Even with all that, we constantly faced the spectre of dehydration. People would accept a drink but forget to drink it, or take a few sips and set it aside.
Why is hydration important?
Because the elderly are often dealing with multiple medical issues and taking many medications, hydration is even more of an issue for them than younger people. Dehydration quickly leads to several severe issues.
- Delirium, confusion and short term memory problems.
- Dizziness and falls.
- Painful cramps.
- Dry mouth and skin. Dry mouth can lead to dental problems and dry skin can crack and cause dangerous infections.
- Low blood pressure, which can also cause dizziness and falls.
- Kidney issues such as urinary tract infections (very common) and kidney stones.
Dehydration happens so quickly! Preventing it needs constant vigilance, creativity, and a little sneakiness. Here are some ideas:
- Offer a variety of drinks frequently.
- To ensure the fluid is consumed, sit and drink together.
- Try foods with high fluid content such as cucumbers and watermelon. (see recipe below.)
- Make fruit kabobs on bamboo skewers to make hydration fun.
- Add fruit such as lemons, limes and orange slices to cold water.
- Make smoothies.
- Make fruit and yogurt popsicles.
- Jelly Drops are a product which was developed for people with dementia, but is effective for everyone. They look like candy, but are 95% water with extra electrolytes. Find out more here: Jelly Drops
Go outside, try new things and have fun this summer. By staying hydrated, you will stay safe, and you and your elder will find joy and make memories together.