Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Re Kielar, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. I know how important it is to stay hydrated. My spouse, however doesnât like water and therefore doesnât drink much. I worry about this. How can I encourage him to stay hydrated?
A. Our bodies need water! Many people are like your spouse and donât like water. It is important to be on the watch for dehydration, confusion, difficulty walking, dizziness, or dry mouth, just to name a few. While we can get our liquids from foods, drinking is still important. Since your husband doesnât like water, I would try to consume foods with a high-water content. On a personal note, at a recent visit with my chiropractor, she was able to tell I was dehydrated just by looking at me! She recommended watermelon to quickly get my body hydrated. Other fruits are helpful as well, and donât forget about vegetables and soups. Keep in mind, however, water remains number one. Powdered flavorings can be added to water to give it taste, but make sure to read the sugar content. Other beverages which are considered âneutralâ include milk or orange juice. Coffee, tea, and pop are not powerful hydrators and can drain the body of fluids. Be mindful when consuming these types of drinks. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so it would not be an acceptable beverage to hydrate the body. A sure way to check for dehydration is to check the urine color. Dark urine or infrequency of urination is a pretty sure sign of dehydration. As we age, we must drink even when we are not thirsty, so always keep a water bottle close by. Having easy access to a water bottle might encourage your husband to drink without much effort. This is important especially if it is hard for him to get around. We know the importance of staying hydrated, but more so during high temperatures. If you do a little research on your own, gently share it! Stress the importance of drinking water with data and facts and a caring spirit. A little praise and affirmation directed towards any effort you notice will definitely help as well!
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to rkielar@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
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