Dehydration frequently causes early warning signs of trouble before causing permanent damage. However, caregivers must be on the lookout for these symptoms and be ready to act quickly if they appear.
- Dehydrated seniors must relieve themselves less frequently. If your loved one does not use the restroom at least once every two hours while awake during the day, they may not be drinking enough.
- The darker a person's urine, the more highly concentrated the waste, and this indicates a lack of water in their body. It's a good idea to drink some water whenever a person's urine is darker than usual.
- When you don't have enough fluid in your body, one of the first places symptoms appear is in your mouth.A senior's dry, sticky mouth indicates a lack of fluid in the body.
- A severe, throbbing headache is frequently caused by dehydration. Headaches caused by a lack of fluid can occur anywhere in the brain - front, top, or back- and are frequently aggravated by bending over, standing up, or exerting yourself. If your senior has a headache that you suspect is caused by dehydration, ask them to stop whatever they're doing and gradually increase their water intake, offering 8 oz. of water every 15-20 minutes until their symptoms are relieved.
Watch for signs of dehydration and follow these senior hydration tips and guidelines to keep your loved one hydrated during the summer months.
