Top 5 hydration tips for seniors

Hydration is crucial for people of all ages because water makes up the majority of the human body. Your mind and body grow more prone to dehydration as you get older, which can lead to more serious diseases.

Learn why staying hydrated is crucial as you age and how you can include extra fluids into your daily routine.

Why is it so vital to stay hydrated?

Here are some of the reasons why being hydrated is so important to your health:

Because your brain is mainly formed of water, and mental functions tend to decrease as you get older, staying hydrated can help your brain function as well as possible.

• Maintain metabolism – While younger adults can control water balance in their bodies, older adults may need to monitor their water consumption to keep their metabolism in check.
• Improve digestion – If you’re starting to get constipated or have digestive issues as you get older, adding more water to your daily routine can help!
• Reduce thirst – As you become older, your feeling of thirst may fade, making it much easier to become dehydrated without realizing it. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, keeping water handy can help you stay hydrated.
• Take care of your kidneys — Kidney illness and dysfunction are more common in seniors. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to assist your kidneys do their work.
• Encourage urinary health — Urinary incontinence is a prevalent problem among seniors. While it may be tempting to reduce your water consumption, this might exacerbate the problem and lead to infection. Even if you aren’t thirsty, make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day.

Top 5 hydration tips

If you believe you need to drink more water, try the following suggestions to boost your water consumption and reap the advantages of hydration:

1. Drink water with every snack and supper.
2. Give flavor to your water by adding slices of your favorite fruits to your water jar; if you like how it tastes, you’ll drink more.
3. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Your hydration will be aided by their high water content. Foods account for about 20% of our fluid intake.
4. Keeping a bottle of water in your car, at your desk, or in your luggage is a good idea.
5. Avoid sodas and beverages that are high in calories (high sugar). Noncaloric beverages or water are the way to go.

Dehydration symptoms

Dehydration symptoms in elderly can resemble those of senile dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If you develop any of the following symptoms, drink plenty of water and contact your doctor straight away:

Symptoms that are less prevalent include:

• Vomiting, urinating, or sweating cause excessive fluid loss.
• Eyes that have sunk
• Mouth mucous membranes that are dry or sticky
• Decreased or nonexistent urine flow Skin that lacks its normal suppleness and sags back into place slowly when pressed up into a fold
• Tear production has slowed.