When someone you care about has dementia, ensuring they get enough to drink can be one of the most worrying parts of the journey. However, a few simple adjustments, some loving encouragement and simple routines are sometimes all it takes to help someone with memory loss stay hydrated and healthy. Let's explore some straightforward ways to boost hydration in older adults without any stress or pressure.

Why Hydration Can Be Challenging With Memory Loss

It's common for people with dementia to not drink enough fluids, even when they really need them. That's because they may stop recognizing feelings of thirst or forget to drink regularly. They may also lose the ability to recognize drinks despite feeling thirsty.

Sometimes, the physical and coordination difficulties that typically accompany dementia can make drinking more challenging. A senior with dementia may struggle to hold a cup steadily or experience problems with swallowing liquids.

Helping someone with dementia stay hydrated can feel challenging because they may refuse drinks. However, drink refusal can sometimes be caused by feeling confused about what caregivers are offering. Multiple factors contribute to dehydration in people with dementia, but support and gentle encouragement can help increase their fluid intake.

Signs of Dehydration in Older Adults

As seniors with dementia may not tell you when they're feeling thirsty, knowing the signs of dehydration is essential. These may include:

Increased confusion or agitation

Sleepiness or fatigue

Headache

Dry mouth and lips

Bad breath

Dizziness

Infrequent urination

Unusually dark urine

Constipation

Sunken eyes

Dry skin

Muscle cramps

If you notice these signs, it's important to encourage your loved one to rehydrate. In severe cases, dehydration can cause more serious symptoms, such as delirium, a fast heart rate or stopping urinating altogether. Seek urgent medical attention if you spot signs of severe dehydration or if you're unable to get the person to increase their fluid intake.

Dementia-Friendly Hydration Tips

While hydration can be challenging, small adjustments to your loved one's routine can make a significant difference. Different approaches work for different individuals, so it's worth trying a few strategies to see what they prefer. Here's a list of easy-to-action tips to encourage better fluid intake in a supportive, practical way.

Offer Fluids Regularly

As we've already learned, waiting for a person with memory loss to ask for a drink could lead to dehydration if they can't articulate or recognize thirst. Offering drinks at regular intervals helps stave off dehydration before it starts and ensures your loved one never goes too long without the opportunity to drink.

Some practical ways to build regular drinks into a daily routine include:

Offer drinks at set times, such as mealtimes and medication times, to make it easier to remember.

Provide small amounts frequently to make drinking feel less overwhelming.

Ensure there are visible, easy-to-reach drinks available to your loved one between set drink times.

Keep offers gentle and casual to avoid the person feeling pressured.

By staying consistent, hydration should start feeling routine and natural for your loved one.

Make Drinks Easy to Access

If drinks aren't easy to access or recognize, a person with dementia is more likely to forget or ignore them. Reducing the effort required to access drinks increases the chances of your loved one choosing to drink independently.

First, ensure you put drinks somewhere the person can reach, ideally in the same places each day to build familiarity. Consider placing a drink within arm's reach of everywhere the person spends time, such as beside their bed and favorite armchair. Refill the drinks regularly to make sure they always have water in their cup or bottle.

Clear or neutral-colored cups and bottles may look stylish, but they don't attract attention. Instead, consider using brightly colored drink containers to make them more noticeable as the person goes about their day.

Prioritize Water-Rich Foods

While some liquid intake is essential, water doesn't have to come just from drinks. Water-rich foods, such as juicy fruits and veggies, also provide a hydration boost and can be more appealing than sipping water. Adding these foods to your loved one's diet is a helpful way to increase their fluid intake if they resist drinking or forget to drink.

Examples of foods with a high water content include:

Watermelon

Oranges

Berries

Yogurt

Cucumber

Tomatoes

Soups

Broths

Smoothies

When planning menus, serving soup as an appetizer or light meal is a simple way to add hydration to mealtimes. You could also consider having water-rich snacks available for the person to nibble on throughout the day. Prioritize easy-to-eat, familiar options to reduce effort and resistance.

Make Water More Appealing

Tastes can change as people get older, which could make plain water seem unappealing and cause people with dementia to lose interest in drinking. In this situation, finding ways to make water more enjoyable could increase their motivation to stay hydrated.

Here are some quick, practical ways to make drinking more pleasant:

Serve drinks in a favorite cup or bottle.

Offer drinks at preferred temperatures (cold, room temperature or warm).

Add berries or sliced fruits for natural flavor.

Boost the flavor with sugar-free cordial.

While water is the healthiest option, it doesn't have to be the only drink offered. Tea, milk and other beverages are also great for hydration if your loved one is reluctant to drink water.

Peace of Mind at Cambridge Court

The assisted living community at Cambridge Court in Kearney, NE, is a comfortable, supportive setting for older adults. If you or someone you care about needs additional support but doesn't require the intensive help provided in a memory care community, we're here to help you maintain your independence. Contact us today to learn more about our life-enhancing services and amenities.