Why Is Hydration So Important for Seniors?
Elder Care in Manalapan NJ
Your senior loved one may want to age in place, but there can be certain challenges to ensuring they do so safely and remain as healthy as possible. Things like eating and drinking may slip their minds, so becoming malnourished and dehydrated are real serious issues that can occur. Elder care is one of the best services for a senior determined to age in place because they will ensure that a senior drinks and eats throughout the day. Hydration is crucial for a senior for so many reasons. Here is everything you need to know about why a senior should be drinking fluids throughout the day.
How Much Water Should a Senior Drink?
A general guideline is to aim for about 8 to 10 cups of water per day, which includes all fluids consumed from beverages and moisture-rich foods, like cucumbers. Seniors should also be mindful of staying adequately hydrated in hot weather or if they have certain medical conditions that may require a higher fluid intake. It’s always a good idea for seniors to consult their healthcare provider for personalized hydration recommendations based on their health needs. A doctor may ask a senior to drink certain fluids based on their weight.
Why Is Hydration So Important?
Hydration is key for everyone, not just seniors. Elder care should ensure that a drink is always within reach of your loved one so they can drink water and fluids throughout the day. Your loved one may forget, but elder care can track how much fluids they’re drinking and how much hydration they’re getting through foods. Here is why hydration is so important.
- Keeps Electrolytes Balanced – Water serves as a medium for the dissolution and transport of electrolytes. It helps dissolve and carry electrolytes throughout the body, ensuring they are available for various bodily processes. When electrolyte levels become too high or too low, it can lead to imbalances that affect health; water helps maintain this balance.
- Water Helps Digestion – As a person ages, their metabolism becomes slower, and their digestion may suffer. Water helps a senior with digesting food throughout the day which is a huge reason why a senior needs to keep drinking fluids.
- It Will Help Their Kidney’s Work – Water is vital for kidney function in several ways. Firstly, it helps to filter waste products and toxins from the blood, which are then excreted as urine. Getting plenty of water means your senior’s body can maintain proper blood volume, ensuring that the kidneys receive the necessary blood supply to carry out filtration effectively. Lastly, water dilutes urine and helps prevent the formation of kidney stones by reducing the concentration of minerals and salts that can crystallize and cause blockages in the urinary tract.
- Helps Move Nutrients – Water is essential for the transport of nutrients in the body. Fluids serve as a medium in which nutrients dissolve, facilitating their absorption in the digestive tract. Water helps with the circulation of lymph, a fluid that carries immune cells and nutrients, contributing to the overall immune response and nutrient distribution throughout the body.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Manalapan, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.
The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.
Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.
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