The July 2017 edition of Nutrition and Healthy Aging released a report on dehydration and the elderly. Of the seniors questioned, just over half said they drink at least six glasses of some type of drink each day. Nine percent said they drink fewer than three glasses each day.

Dehydration is a serious concern in the elderly. Just a two percent deficiency in body fluid can impact physical health. It can also lead to cognitive issues. The sense of thirst decreases in senior citizens. Those with memory impairment may forget that they haven’t had a drink in a couple of hours. This also leads to dehydration.

How Much Water Does Your Parent Need?

It’s important for your parent to stay hydrated. It’s also important that your parent doesn’t drink too much fluid each day. Too much fluid can also cause confusion, increase blood pressure, impact the brain and other organs, and cause seizures.

Geriatrics and Aging released a formula to determine how much fluid people should drink. Subtract 20 kilograms from your body weight. Multiply that result by 15 milliliters. That number plus 1,500 is how many milliliters of fluid to drink each day.

Say a senior weighs 150 pounds. Convert pounds to kilograms, and you end up with 68 kilograms. Subtract 20 kilograms and get 48 kilograms. Multiply 48 by 15 for 720. Now add 1,500 milliliters to that and get 2,220. If you do a volume conversion, 2,220 milliliters equals 9.38 cups.

Using that formula, a 150-pound senior should drink about 9 cups of water each day. A little under is fine as some of the foods they eat contain liquid.

How Can You Make Sure Your Parent Stays Hydrated?

Head to a kitchen or home goods store and look for water bottles designed to prevent dehydration. There are several on the market. Some flash a light within the plastic to remind your parent it’s time to drink another cup of liquid. Others have an audible alarm. If your parent doesn’t need a reminder, a bottle with measurements printed on the side can help keep track of daily hydration throughout the day.

Your mom or dad may be ready for home care services. Caregivers can remind your parent when it’s time to have another glass of water. The caregiver can pour a glass of water and bring it to your parent if mobility is a problem. Caregivers can also keep your parent from drinking too much water during the day.

Learn about reminders, meal preparation, and other home care services that make sure your parent stays hydrated. Call now.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in West University Place, TX, contact the caring staff at Personal Caregiving Services at 832-564-0338. Providing Care in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, and Sugar Land and the surrounding areas

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5734130/
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/567678_6