Tips to Help Older Adults Avoid Dehydration During Summer Heat
Dear Carol: We’re heading into the hottest part of summer and I’m getting nervous for my 79-year-old mother. She likes it warm, which I know isn’t unusual for someone her age, but she became dangerously dehydrated last summer during a heat wave. Some of that was due to being sick and having a fever and diarrhea, but some of it was simply forgetting to drink enough water. This summer, I’ve been reminding her about how important fluids are to avoid a repeat of the scary dehydration. She says yes, she agrees, but it’s like her thirst mechanism doesn’t work so she forgets to drink water. She’s otherwise healthy and, thank goodness, doesn’t show signs of unusual memory loss. Do you have any tips for helping her remember to drink water other than simply nagging? – TJ
Dear TJ: Great question considering the possible consequences of dehydration. Like much regarding the aging process, the mechanism that helps the body adjust to temperature changes becomes less responsive. Older adults may not…
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