QUESTION: I’ve heard a lot about the dangers summer heat can pose for seniors. What are some things I can do to help my senior parents make it a happy and healthy summer?
ANSWER: As the summer temperatures climb, it is a time to pay special attention to the seniors in our lives to make sure that they are receiving adequate hydration.
- Encourage drinking (even if your seniorrelative/friend/neighbor asserts,”I am not thirsty”) by using smaller glasses or smaller portions (1/3 of a glass). Small cups can be less daunting for some seniors than larger tumblers.
- Some seniors with cognitive deficits, in particular, “forget” to drink, often stating, “I just had something to drink,” when, in fact, hours may have passed since they last had any hydration.
- On a similar note, some seniors with dementia may welcome a drink and, upon presentation, then say, “I’ll have it a little later.” It may take a little extra creative coaxing to have the person drink water in the present.
- Avoid saying, “You have to drink this! You are going to become dehydrated.” Instead, say, “It would really help me out if you enjoyed your drink now so that I can finish the dishes or toss your cup in the trash.”
- Other seniors avoid drinking because of the embarrassment associated with urinary incontinence, wanting to limit trips to the restroom, especially when at social gatherings or family outings.
- Still others avoid drinking to prevent coughing/gagging. This may suggest a condition known as dysphagia in which food or fluid is misdirected into the airway, a serious condition which may result in aspiration pneumonia.* Some seniors with dysphagia avoid drinking because they do not enjoy the “thickness” of the prescribed fluid consistency, (nectar/honey/pudding). Those in this category should enjoy consistency-appropriate milkshakes or fruit smoothies, or eat foods high in water content to help meet hydration needs such as watermelon or apple sauce.
- Still others avoid drinking because of alter senses of taste and/or smell. Insisting, “This does just not taste the way it used to!” Taste perception can be altered by disease process, a lifetime of smoking, medication use, decreased saliva production, or poor oral care.
- For seniors with an altered sense of taste, experiment with different flavors (sweet) or temperatures (cold cranberry juice, warm coffee) to determine what new beverages might appeal to any changes in taste perception.
- Still other seniors may not meet their hydration needs because of an inability to access fluids, i.e.,”My daughter went to the grocery store, and I cannot safely make it to the cupboard/refrigerator/sink.” Loved ones should leave a bottle of water at the beds/chair-side at all times to quench the thirst of persons with mobility limitations.
- Finally, remember that eating and drinking should be a fun, social and sensory experience. Create a pleasant atmosphere and join in a toast of lemon-aid with that special senior in your life.
*Consult your doctor or a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SPL) if dysphagia is suspected.
