Preventing Dehydration when Providing Elderly Care

Posted: 6/11/2014 10:16 AM by Interim HealthCare
Mark wasn’t much of a caregiver, had never been one, but when his mother fell and she needed someone to help her at home during her recovery, he took it upon himself to do that, mostly because he was the only real viable option. Or so he thought. He didn’t know the first thing about elderly care, but he knew what his mother would require from and of him and he was willing to provide it for her.

Mark would visit with his mother every day, usually after work though he found that he needed to see her in the morning too sometimes, to help her get dressed and ready for her day. Her days would consist mostly of sitting around in a wheelchair doing some crafts but also taking part in some physical exercises to help her make a full recovery.

She was prescribed a number of medications, including some pain medications, but Mark wasn’t aware of the risks of some of these medications. One of the most common problems that patients have when taking multiple medications is that they don’t drink enough water throughout the day and that can lead to dehydration.

Mark noticed that his mother would be tired by the time he was out of work and made it to her house. He would help her get into bed and bring her a glass of water. By the next morning, the glass would still have most of the water remaining, but he didn’t think much about it.
This pattern continued until he also noticed that her skin was beginning to sag even more from her face, hands, and other features. It was subtle, but Mark recognized that something wasn’t quite right. He finally encourage her to go to the doctor and he took her the following day. That’s when they both learned that she wasn’t getting enough water in her diet.

The medications that his mother was taking were drawing water from other parts of her body and since she wasn’t replenishing it, she was slowly withering away. It’s also why she was feeling so rundown and tired, long before the usual end of her day arrived.
Mark immediately began to make sure that she drank plenty of fluids throughout the day. Even though she didn’t feel like drinking, he made sure that she did. Within a week, his mother was looking and acting more like her ‘normal’ self.

When it comes to elderly care, it’s absolutely essential to make sure that the senior is drinking enough water, even when they don’t feel like doing so.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services, contact Interim HealthCare today. G+