Diet gun

Water is essential in all biochemical processes that take place in our body.

Water helps transport nutrients to the body’s tissues, eliminates harmful metabolic products, maintains healthy joints, controls body temperature.

Older adults have a reduced sense of thirst. Also, when our bodies don’t have enough fluids, we become even less thirsty and drink less water, resulting in even faster dehydration.

If we don’t drink enough water or other fluids each day, we can become dehydrated, which means we lose more water than we take in.

Signs of dehydration in older adults include: Fatigue, confusion, dizziness, dry mouth, disorientation, possible low blood pressure, orange and foul-smelling urine.

As we age, dehydration can cause many health problems, such as poor concentration, slow reaction times, memory problems, easy fatigue, weakness, possible falls, urinary tract infections, kidney problems, constipation.

Certain medications such as laxatives and diuretics can cause problems with adequate fluid intake.

Health problems that can also cause you to become dehydrated or have difficulty drinking water include stroke, kidney disease, poorly controlled diabetes, swallowing problems, depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s.

Possible problems with our mobility may cause us to avoid drinking water because it may be difficult to go to the bathroom frequently.

Living in a long-term care home can lead to inadequate water intake due to a possible lack of adequate access to water.


7 Tips to Drink Enough Water
We should aim to drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids a day.

1. Water with a straw

We fill a plastic bottle with water, take it with us wherever we go and drink it throughout the day. The difference is that we drink the water WITH A STRAW. We will be positively surprised by the amount we can drink this way.

2. A full glass of water

We drink a full glass of water when we take a pill or a dose of pills. If we take medication at different times of the day, it is an opportunity to take in more water.

3. We drink water like….a drink!

We add 1 – 2 slices of lemon or orange and/or some ice cubes to a glass and we have a fresh taste in our water.

4. Sip water

Take sips of water between bites of your meal. These sips help to keep you hydrated.

5. Liquid foods

Increase the amount of soft and liquid foods with a high water content, such as yogurt, fruit purees, creams, fruits.

6. Create a routine

Add a tea or other natural drink containing fluids such as fruit juice to your daily schedule and drink it with a friend. If going out for tea every day is not possible, you can do it at home by inviting your friend there.

7. Limit alcohol

Limit or, better yet, avoid alcohol. Alcoholic beverages do not count towards your daily fluid intake because they cause dehydration.