How do Care Professionals Help Seniors Fight Dehydration?

How to Prevent Dehydration in Elderly?

Elderly are at an increased risk of low-intake dehydration as age, reduced muscle mass and kidney functions decrease the water stores in the muscles. Older people, who have issues regarding urinary incontinence or need assistance to get to the toilet, will also consciously avoid drinking enough water, thus increasing the danger of dehydration.

Many care home services in Droitwich have patients that have trouble remembering to drink any fluids or have problems in swallowing water or accessing fluids. Recovery from dehydration in elderly is much more complication and a painful process, due to which health care professionals in most care homes help the residents drink enough water to avoid any dangers of dehydration.

Tips to Help Patients Avoid Dehydration

Here are some top tips that professionals in care home services in Bromsgrove rely on when helping their residents stay hydrated and healthy.

1.      All elderly should be considered to be at a risk for low intake dehydration and should be offered water throughout the day to encourage adequate hydration.

2.      Care home residents should be encouraged to drink more fluids by offering them a variety of flavoured drinks based on their preferences to facilitate the process of hydration.

3.      The care home professionals should identify the barriers or promoters of drinking fluids and should take necessary measures to support drinking schedules of residents and record them in their personalized health care plans.

4.      The care home services in Droitwich implement strict strategies by increasing the availability, as well as variety of drinks, and encouraging the staff to offer water or drinks frequently throughout the day. One of the best tips to help patients avoid dehydration is to enhance staff awareness by helping them understand the importance of adequate drinking and offering them training to help patients with incontinence drink enough fluids.

5.      Diversifying liquid intake and adding grape, prune or apple juice can increase the elderly’s interest in consuming more fluids and are beneficial for health as they are also rich in electrolytes. They have high amounts of nutrients, which will help replenish the residents’ energy.

It is also a great idea to avoid a lot of sugary drinks or caffeine for fluid replenishment. Although they are delicious to drink, they are not so great for hydration. It is essential for the health care staff to choose fluids wisely, as certain beverages can make the heart and kidneys work harder to eliminate them from the body or produce urine.