The fastest way to cure dehydration is to drink fluids, particularly those that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions. People unable to drink properly due to medical conditions may require IV hydration for faster results.
According to the Reynolds Institute on Aging, Seniors should aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, or approximately 1.5 liters. Have your senior sip on water throughout the day. Sometimes using a straw is easier and leads to more water consumption. Offer a full glass of water when they take medications.
If the person you are caring for is showing early signs of dehydration, offer them a bottle of water, Gatorade, Powerade or coconut water to replenish their electrolytes quickly. Know their medications. Some medications (like diuretics) can cause an elderly person to become dehydrated even faster than normal.
Pedialyte. One of the best drinks for the elderly, Pedialyte is an advanced, medical-grade hydration formula. It contains electrolytes, namely potassium, sodium, and chloride to restore the electrolyte balance and prevent dehydration.
How to prevent dehydration in older adults? Experts generally recommend that older adults consume at least 1.7 liters of fluid per 24 hours. This corresponds to 57.5 fluid ounces, or 7.1 cups.
You should aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day.
The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count. You may need to drink more fluids if you're: pregnant or breastfeeding.
Drinking at least three servings of milk or eating dairy foods each day is a good way for seniors, like Doris, to get vitamin D and calcium, and protein. Doris uses milk in her cereal and cooks with it, too. Her staples are macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, and soups.
If you don't treat dehydration by drinking water and in some cases taking on electrolytes in the right quantities, your dehydration may last indefinitely. If it progresses for long enough, you can die from dehydration. Most of us know this - you can go weeks without food, but only days without water.
While all beverages restored hydration status equally, the researchers found that milk may be more effective than water or sports drinks at maintaining normal hydration status after exercise, likely due to milk's electrolyte content and energy density.
Be ready to act if you notice signs of dehydration. Some symptoms are mild, like nausea and headaches, but dizziness, confusion and cramping can indicate a more serious problem. "If caregivers of a patient suspect dehydration, they need to seek medical attention," Dr. Muckala says.
If you are mildly dehydrated, you often will start to feel better within 10 to 15 minutes of drinking water, a sports drink, or juice. For moderate dehydration, you typically will be treated with intravenous hydration in urgent care or the emergency room over the course of a few hours or a day.
For example, milk was found to be even more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach and keep hydration happening over a longer period.
In addition, beverages such as milk, juice and herbal teas are composed mostly of water. Even caffeinated drinks — such as coffee and soda — can contribute to your daily water intake.
It's important to note that it's not just water that will keep your body hydrated. Milk, fruit juice, cordial, vegetable juice, soup, tea, soft drink, custard, jelly, ice cream and hot chocolate are other alternatives you can consume throughout the day to stay hydrated.
The answer is yes, coffee does count toward your daily water intake. However, drinking huge amounts of caffeine can be dehydrating. That's because it may increase urination that can result in a higher risk of dehydration. While coffee is hydrating, it lacks electrolytes our body needs for complete hydration.
Showering or bathing too often can strip the skin of natural oils and dry out the skin. At times it can lead to itchy and flaky skin – which can cause infections. Therefore, it's okay for the elderly to just bathe once or twice a week.
Encourage them to drink throughout the day.
Rather than consuming a large amount of fluids all at once, seniors should drink throughout the day. Create a schedule for drinking to stay on track; have a glass of water first thing in the morning, drink with every meal, etc.
If the body doesn't have enough water (known as dehydration), it won't function as well. People who don't drink enough water every day are at greater risk of kidney stones, problems with their heart valves and some kinds of cancer. Even minor dehydration can affect physical and mental performance.
While it is clear that dehydrated cells are associated with brain dysfunction, it is not yet known whether dehydration is a cause or an effect of dementia. In addition to being most vulnerable to dehydration related cognitive decline, the elderly are also at higher risk for dehydration.