Is Your Senior Parent Dehydrated?
Home care can help your aging senior drink enough to not get dehydrated.
If your senior parent is living on their own, there is a strong possibility they are not drinking enough water. Most seniors don’t. According to the National Institute of Health, as many as 75% of seniors are chronically dehydrated. If your mom or dad is living alone, they may not realize that they’re thirsty during the day. Or, they may just forget to drink water. It’s also possible that getting water is physically difficult for them so they don’t do it.
If you suspect that your mom or dad isn’t drinking enough, home care providers can help. With home care, your mom or dad will have someone with them throughout the day to remind them to drink more water. A home care provider can make sure your mom or dad has plenty of fresh, cool water to drink. A home care provider can also share meals and drinks with your mom or dad to encourage them to drink more.
If you’re not sure if your mom or dad is dehydrated, be on the lookout for these common signs of dehydration in seniors:
Dry Mouth and Skin
One of the first signs of dehydration that your mom or dad will experience is dry mouth. Your mom or dad may complain about a bad taste in their mouth or their mouth feeling dry. Their skin may also become dry and less elastic. When you pinch the skin on the back of the hand, it may not snap back quickly. This is a sign that your senior parent needs to drink more water.
Dark Urine and Less Frequent Urination
Healthy urine is light yellow. If your mom or dad is dehydrated, their urine becomes dark and concentrated. Seniors may also urinate less often if they’re not drinking enough water. If you notice that your mom or dad goes for long periods without using the bathroom, it could mean they need more fluids.
Drinking water can also help your mom or dad avoid getting a urinary tract infection.
Dizziness and Confusion
Dehydration affects the brain. It can cause your mom or dad to experience dizziness, confusion, and trouble concentrating. Your mom or dad may complain that they feel lightheaded when they stand up, or they may have trouble maintaining their balance when standing.
They also might forget things or seem more confused than usual.
Fatigue and Weakness
Not drinking enough water often causes seniors to be more tired than usual. Your mom or dad may feel weak and sluggish, or they may have less energy than they usually have.
Lots of things can cause fatigue in seniors, but if you give your mom or dad a glass of water or get them to drink something like a smoothie or a protein shake and they feel better, dehydration may be part of the problem.
Rapid Heartbeat and Low Blood Pressure
If your mom or dad has heart disease, any change in their heart rate or blood pressure should be checked by a doctor. But, when the body lacks water, the heart has to work harder, so dehydration can also affect your mom or dad’s heart rate.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Des Plaines, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 948-0860. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette, and the surrounding areas.
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