Ways to Prevent Dehydration in Senior Alzheimer’s Patients
The term dehydration refers to the severe loss or removal of water from body cells that often triggers additional complications. People of all ages can fall prey to dehydration and suffer from resulting problems like headache, constipation, sluggishness, tiredness, etc.
Elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease commonly struggle with dehydration. Therefore, experts in memory care in Oklahoma City suggest encouraging elders to increase their water intake. Dehydration can cause restlessness and anxiety in senior individuals. This serious situation mostly results from the reasons discussed below, especially in older folks suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Poor Memory
Seniors suffering from memory disorders often forget to drink water regularly. This leads to inadequate intake of water, and as a result, elders suffer from dehydration.
Hydrophobia
Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for triggering certain fears and unexplained phobias like that of water. This generally makes elderly people reluctant to perform daily activities like bathing, drinking water and other water-related tasks.
Dysphagia
Seniors suffering from memory disorders often experience difficulty swallowing food and water. Due to this, seniors often avoid drinking water, as they are afraid of choking.
Poor Perception
Poor judgment and the loss of ability to perceive things makes seniors susceptible to dehydration. Even if they recognize that they are thirsty, they might not be able to figure out what to do about it.
Side Effects From Medication
Dehydration is a common side effect of some medicines. In addition, medications for some ailments, such as Alzheimer’s, have diuretic effects. This also can lead to dehydration.
Mobility Issues
Elderly patients with mobility issues can find it difficult to make frequent trips to the kitchen or other faucet, due to which they end up drinking less fluids and fall prey to dehydration.
The tips discussed below can be quite helpful for senior Alzheimer’s patients suffering from dehydration:
Frequent Prompting and Reminders
Since elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease often don’t feel thirsty, they should be reminded to drink water at frequent intervals. Prompting and encouraging seniors to drink water regularly can be helpful in preventing dehydration. There are many apps and devices that can be used to set alarms and remind them to drink water on time.
Colored Drinking Glass
Patients with memory disorders and hydrophobia should be served water in colored glasses. Since these patients can be frightened by the sound of running water, it is wise to fill bottles beforehand and store them in the proper place.
Increased Intake of Hydrating Foods
Certain fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, strawberries, melons, tomatoes and apples have a higher water content and are tasty too. A regular diet consisting of these hydrating foods will help prevent dehydration.
Medication Analysis
As previously discussed, medicines can affect the water content of cells greatly. Therefore, patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease should go for regular health checkups. A physician that specializes in memory care in Oklahoma City can easily diagnose a patient suffering from dehydration and offer a solution by prescribing suitable medicines. Also, if the need arises, the doctor can also offer alternate methods of treatment to keep dehydration at bay.