Facts About Senior Dehydration Plus Giveaway

I have mentioned a few times over the past month and a half that our garden has been suffering because of the sweltering heat here in Utah. Like many of you I find myself suffering too and I have to limit my time outside. I seek refuge in any air conditioned space and I drink plenty of water. I am grateful we have air conditioning in our home. When Bay Alarm Medical reached out to me about the importance of staying hydrated I invited them to be my guest. They are sharing the important Facts about Senior Dehydration plus a Giveaway. Although this post is directed to seniors, it is just as important for any age and for your pets as well to keep hydrated.

The following is a guest post and giveaway sponsored by Bay Alarm Medical. I did not receive compensation for this post and giveaway.

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Facts About Senior Dehydration

As a caregiver or loved one of an elderly family member, keeping track of medications and watching for signs of illness can sometimes seem like a full time job. Even so, there is one more health concern you need to watch for: senior dehydration. Dehydration in seniors can be more problematic than dehydration in younger people.

Why Seniors Become Dehydrated
Senior dehydration has several causes. First, as one ages, their sense of thirst typically declines — just like other senses. Because of this, they may not drink as much water as they once did. In addition, some of the medications they take, such as diuretics, can cause dehydration. Other medications can make seniors sweat more, too.
A lack of mobility can also lead to dehydration as some seniors can find it difficult to get up and go to the kitchen for a drink of water. Other seniors may rely on caregivers to provide them with water. Sometimes, even the most attentive caregiver can’t sense when a senior needs something to drink.

Finally, as the body becomes older, it is not uncommon to lose some kidney function, which makes it more difficult for the body to conserve fluids.

Why Senior Dehydration is a Serious Issue
Dehydration happens when a person uses more water than they are taking in. In mild cases, dehydration can lead to having difficulty in eliminating bodily waste and elevated body temperature.
In more serious cases, dehydration causes confusion, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and even bedsores if the older adult is bedridden. In severe cases, dehydration can lead to death.

Currently, studies show that over a billion dollars is spent each year on hospitalizations that are caused by dehydration, all of which were completely avoidable. In fact, up to 48% of older adults that are transported to the hospital test positive for dehydration, and up to 30% of patients in long-term care facilities have been shown to be suffering from dehydration as well.

How to Prevent Dehydration in Seniors
Most people have heard that everyone needs to drink eight glasses of water a day. The truth is, there is no scientific evidence behind this at all. The amount of water a person needs each day varies widely from person to person. Some of the factors depend on the size of person, their activity level, and their diet.
While water certainly does come from the tap, most people get a great deal of their water intake from food. For example, some fruits such as watermelon, and foods like soup are made up mostly of water.

To ensure that your loved one is getting enough water on a daily basis, you will want to provide them access to water and other fluids throughout the day. If your loved one has high blood pressure, make sure any soups or broth you give them are low in sodium. Similarly, if your loved one has diabetes, make sure any fruits you give them do not affect their insulin levels.

Perhaps the safest way to help seniors stay hydrated is to monitor their fluid intake by refilling a water bottle several times during the day.

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Watch for the Signs of Dehydration
Signs of dehydration in seniors can be a little more difficult to see than in younger people. Some clear signs to watch for include:
• Lack of urine output or dark urine
• Confusion
• Dry mouth
• Sunken eyes
When it comes to senior health, it is sometimes necessary as loved ones to step up and take a more proactive role in your family member’s health care. This includes watching for signs of dehydration. With a little planning, this is one health issue that can be easily stopped before it starts or becomes life threatening. Skin turgor, or your skin’s elasticity, is an indicator used by health professionals to determine if fluid loss or dehydration is present in patients.

I am happy to be partnering with Bay Alarm Medical to bring you a great way to stay hydrated. Enter to win a set of Five Clean Water bottles -Two Winners! Bottle sets valued at $50 (USD)