It’s very common for seniors to be dehydrated. Chronic dehydration is something that affects 40% of seniors over the age of 65. And the number of dehydrated seniors is even higher among seniors with medical conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia who may be unable to recognize their body’s thirst cue. Seniors who are chronically dehydrated have an increased risk for urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and other medical conditions. Dehydration can also cause fatigue and dizziness. Dehydration in the summer can contribute to heatstroke. So it’s very important for seniors to keep drinking water throughout the day and to eat foods that have a high water content. For seniors that forget to drink water eating foods that have a lot of water can help prevent hydration. A home care services provider can help keep your senior on track.
The best foods for seniors who want to stay hydrated are:
Watermelon
Watermelon is mostly water, as the name implies. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than some cold watermelon. Watermelon is also easy to puree so that seniors who have problems chewing can enjoy it. A watermelon sorbet is a delicious snack. It’s also a fantastic way to end a meal. A home care assistance provider can help your senior loved one increase their hydration by cutting up or pureeing some fresh watermelon for them each day.
Citrus Fruits
Oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are all good sources of water as well as the best source for important minerals and vitamins like Potassium and Vitamin C. Snacking on some citrus fruit is a delicious way senior’s can stay hydrated. If you or a home care assistance provider want to tempt your senior loved one to eat more citrus fruit a great way to do that is to dip peeled orange segments into melted chocolate, then put the segments on a baking sheet in the fridge until they firm up.
Salads
Many of the components of a good salad are at least 85% water. Iceberg lettuce, kale, cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots all have a lot of water in them. Just one salad per day with a mix of these ingredients can significantly increase your senior loved one’s hydration without them having to drink more water. A home care assistance provider can make a salad for your senior loved one for lunch or for a snack each day.
Celery
Celery is another food that is mostly water but does have some vitamins and minerals too. If your senior loved one isn’t allergic to peanuts some celery spread with peanut butter is a fantastic snack for seniors. It has lots of water, protein, and healthy vitamins and minerals.
Drinking More Water
If your senior loved one doesn’t like drinking water because they don’t like tap water bottled water is a good option that might encourage them to drink more water. But you can also make water more appealing by adding fruit to it. With an infusion pitcher you or a home care assistance provider can make delicious fresh fruit water.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Medford NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660
Source:
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/study-finds-a-lack-of-adequate-hydration-among-the-elderly