As one of the family caregivers, it is important to make sure your loved one stays hydrated. There are many seniors who become dehydrated due to not getting the proper nutrition or not drinking enough water. This can be quite dangerous to their health. If you recognize that your loved one is dehydrated, it is important you do something about it.
Signs of Dehydration
Some of the most common signs of senior dehydration include the following:
- Difficulties with walking
- Rapid heart rate
- Confusion
- Reduced blood pressure
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Sunken eyes
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Inability to produce tears or sweat
- Low output of urine
If you notice these signs of dehydration in your loved one, it is important to do something about it.
Things to Do When Your Loved One is Dehydrated
Some of the things you can and should do if your loved one is dehydrated include the following:
- Talk to their doctor to see if any medications may be affecting their thirst
- Get them to drink at least half their weight in ounces of water each day
- Monitor their fluid intake, so you know how much they are drinking each day
If your loved one is dehydrated, it is important to do something about it immediately. The longer you wait to re-hydrate your loved one, the more health issues that could arise. It is also important to know how to prevent dehydration in the future for your loved one.
Dehydration Prevention Tips for Your Loved One
There are many tips that can help you to prevent dehydration in your loved one. Some of these tips include the following:
- Getting enough fluids (through foods, water, or other healthy beverages)
- Monitor your loved ones weight to assure they arent losing too much weight
- Monitor their headaches and assure they are drinking fluids when they get a headache
- Make sure your loved one is drinking even if they arent thirsty
- Offer many different beverages, so they dont get bored with the same thing
- Monitor medications to assure those arent causing issues with thirst
- These are some of the best ways to prevent dehydration in your loved one. These tips will help you to do that.
Dehydration can lead to many other health issues. When it comes to caregivers, one of your jobs is to make sure your loved one stays healthy. This includes making sure they are taking in the right amount of fluids.
If you notice any of the signs of dehydration, make sure you are doing something about it. Talking to their doctor is one of the first things you should do. After that, you should assure they are getting enough fluids. There are ways you can prevent dehydration as you have read above. Be sure to do these things regularly to assure your loved one isnt getting dehydrated again.
Source
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5734130/
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Woodbury, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.