Dehydration can be a serious health issue for seniors. Even a slight lack of water can:
> make your heart work harder to maintain blood flow
> impair brain function
> increase stroke risk
> make it harder for kidneys to filter blood
> lead to low blood pressure
> urinary tract infections
Dehydration is associated with dizziness, nausea, headache, weakness, confusion, falls, fainting and constipation. Dehydration among older adults frequently leads to hospitalization.
Drinking soda, coffee, fruit juice or sports drinks does not take the place of water! Those type of beverages often have ingredients that are unhealthy. Some seniors deliberately reduce their intake of fluids due to incontinence, reduced mobility because of the fear that they won’t be able to get to the bathroom in time when they need to. Even if you are urinating that doesn’t mean you are drinking enough water.
Dehydration can sneak up on a person quickly. Body water content decreases as people get older. Many medications make people more susceptible to dehydration. According to the University of Chicago Medical Center, 40% of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. were among people over 65.
