Keeping The Elderly Hydrated During A Heat Wave

[Libby]

Just wondering what are some of your tips/ideas on how to keep an elderly person hydrated during the summer or heatwaves/heat alerts. I know the larger cities set up 'cooling stations' where you can visit or pop in if you're downtown with free water/juice and its usually air conditioned.

My scenario: my dad chooses to stay inside, windows open during the day with no AC turned on. He does use a fan but its not really helping much. Its stifling hot when I go upstairs and I'm trying to keep him conscious about keeping his hydration levels up in the heat. He's in denial and continually claims he's not thirsty. I've told him that by the time he feels thirsty it could be too late and its better for him to sip water continually throughout the day vs chugging a cup full every few hours.

Any tips or suggestions on how to get him to keep hydrated?

Side note: this is the time of year, that if you have elderly neighbours...please keep an eye out for them. They're often very frugal and refuse to use the AC...if you haven't seen them in a couple of days, please pop over to check on them.

[frugalfranny]

With my dad, I found that if I filled a water jug--just the regular plastic kind---------about half full then froze it.....then filled it the rest of the way up when I gave it to him, he would keep drinking.

In other words--------have something close by and keep it cold. I tried to always have him keep one by his chair on the table.

If it got room temp. he would no longer drink it. So I kept about 6 of them in his freezer......all half full and frozen and ready to be filled.

[Lady_V]

I filled a water jug--just the regular plastic kind---------about half full then froze it.....then filled it the rest of the way up when I gave it to him

That is what I did when I did private nursing, all year long.

Diva, not remotely elderly but needs to be hydrated all the same, has gaterade bottles done the same way.

If you are home with Dad all day, how about popping in and having a glass with him every hour or so?

[Libby]

He's not the water drinking type unless he's thirsty and actually prefers his water room temp or hotter :/ I'm all for cold and will use that idea on myself though.

I've sat with him for 1/2 hour at a time watching his tv shows with him and encouraging him to drink, I brought out the fan and placed bottles of water on his chair side table. They're still there, unmoved

I just worry too much.

[pollypurebred39]

Libby, How about making him a pot of hot tea several times a day? you could also make lots of jello, give him a plate of juicy orange slices, and have soup often. Anything to keep the fluids coming in.

I'd also suggest setting the fans up in such a way that they draw the air through the house. My Dad used to set his fans on intake and outake and draw the air current from downstairs though the upstairs. He had one venting fan upstairs that drew the hot air out through a window. It was amazing what a difference that made. If you have an attic make sure to vent hot air out of the attic window too.

Also, it would be a good idea to get your Dad some super light summer clothing, and be sure he keeps his feet bare or in sandals. Heavier clothing and shoes or slippers hold the heat in.

[mek42]

I don't like drinking water at home. What I do at home is to get some juice (the kind stored at room temp on the store shelf) and cut it 50/50 with water. This saves money on buying juice and "tricks" me into drinking more water.

[ktsmama]

How about Popsicles, sherbert, frozen fruit bars or something similar? Every little bit helps.

[monkeywrangler71]

If he won't turn on the air conditioning, you can try putting a bowl of ice in front of the fan to blow some cool air into the room. Another thing we used to do back home (where no one has A/C) is put a large fan in the window pointing out, it would suck the hot air out of the room.

Remember that a fan cools your skin, not the room. So if you just have a fan running, it's not going to feel like it's doing anything when you walk into the room. You need to make sure it is actually blowing on your father in order for it to have any effect.

Can he walk downstairs? If so, invite him down to "your place" for a cup of tea. If not, take him out somewhere during the hottest time of day - mall walking, restaurant, Walmart, the movies - all businesses are air conditioned.

[Darlene]

He got a fav team? I'd get him one of those insulated "cool" sports bottles to drink out of. Works for kids, why not adults too?

Not a hydrating item but very usefull to help keep cool. Dh used to wear one when he delivered mail in the hot summer. Works great. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/HeatMax-EverCool-Cooling-Bandanas-Bandanas/dp/B0007TANLA/ref=pd_sbs_sg_2"]Amazon.com: HeatMax EverCool Cooling Bandanas. Pack of Three Bandanas - Reusable: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MU3bUohrL.@@AMEPARAM@@51MU3bUohrL[/ame]

[krbshappy71]

I prefer to be warm, I really dislike air conditioning. If he's much thinner than you are it might not feel as hot to him. Would bowls of ice water around cool the room off? Or will it be too humid? Its very dry here so that's a trick we use to cool off the room.

Does he have a dorm fridge in his room? He might drink more if he could help himself instead of having to go downstairs. Even having you bring him water isn't the same as him being independent and helping himself to his own fridge. Just a thought.

[frugalfranny]

I just worry too much.

No, not necessarily.......dehydration can also affect the mind/speech/brain power.

Even though my dad has Alz. I learned that if I could keep him hydrated it also made for a more 'coherent' person.

Another test I have read about.....pull the skin up on the back of his hand. If it doesn't go back down......he is dehydrated. If it goes down very slowly, less so. Keeping in mind that older skin will take longer to return. If done consistently, you will see a difference in the time it takes.....according to his hydration.

[McD]

Would a camelbak help? Home - CamelBak.com

The military uses them alot. It's like a backpack/water bottle thing. HUbby loves his. He wears it around when he is mowing.

[KatieInLa2]

Does he like ice tea? Maybe keep a pitcher made for him or bring a glass and drink with him.

[Libby]

These are all great ideas...he's just to freaking stubborn to go for them Special water bottles/bandanas, camelbak thing is cute - friend has one for hiking, fave drink - nothing is working.

So I've put out bottles of water, all room temp around the house: beside his bed, where he would sit at kitchen table, 2 by his tv stand. I noticed one was opened today I nudged the fan further down the table so it points directly at him - the man who 'hates wind'. I have opened the windows and patio door to let air 'flow' through the house and turned on the 'vent fan' only on the furnace to circulate the cooler air upstairs. Today's pretty hot as well but I don't think quite as hot as it was the previous days. I did buy grapes, watermelon & oranges - things I know he likes to eat, hopefully there's enough juices in those to count as liquids.

He's basically sitting in his recliner watching tv all day - relaxing. Not sure if its b/c he's physically tired or b/c he's laying low b/c its so hot out - too hot to do anything. He says he feels fine, he's coherent (esp when he's telling me to leave him alone with the drinking water thing lol) and I have yet to do that pinch test but will definitely keep that in mind if the heat keeps up.

Looks like I'm going to be making more 'soups' for lunches this week/weekend until it cools down a bit. OR I may 'accidentally' flip on the AC for days I need to go out shopping.

Seriously guys - these are great tips on how to keep hydrated in the heat. Thanks and keep em coming if you have them

[shoiji]

I lived in a third floor apartment for a couple of years. I was not allowed air conditioning. One thing I did was fill the bathtub with water. Whenever I needed to cool off I would hop in. Do not know if you father would do that. Is there anyone you know with a pool or a community pool near by?

How about flavored waters? Even tea, lemonade, water with some fresh fruit.