June 23rd is National Hydration Day, an excellent opportunity for family caregivers to take a moment and pay closer attention to how much water their seniors are drinking, and perhaps make a plan for hydration. Home care providers can do a lot to make proper hydration easier, especially through eating hydrating foods and simply reminding seniors to keep sipping throughout the day.
Make Water Readily Available
Anything is easier to do more often if it’s accessible, and the same is true for drinking more water. Having a water bottle they like or a specific glass they enjoy using can make a significant difference in helping aging adults drink water more often.
It can also help seniors start noticing what makes water more palatable for them. Small changes, such as using a straw or keeping the water cold, can help seniors enjoy water more.
Create Routines Around Hydration
Making changes isn’t always easy, especially for seniors. Routines offer consistency while also helping aging adults ensure that they’re doing all the things they have decided they want to do. The routines they choose help make sure that they don’t miss anything that helps boost their well-being.
Choosing to drink water at specific times or tying it to other activities can really help. Home care providers can help seniors establish routines that allow them to gradually increase their water intake.
Build Menus Around Foods with High Water Content
When seniors want to start improving their hydration, eating foods with a higher water content can be a great way to fill the gaps. Berries, lettuce, cucumbers, melons, broths, and other foods with a high water content are all great choices. These foods also offer seniors the nutrients they need, including minerals, vitamins, and fiber, which help boost their health in multiple ways.
Home care providers can work with seniors to put menus together that include these types of foods.
Switch Things Up
Fresh, plain water is one of the best and easiest ways for seniors to get the hydration that they need. However, sometimes water can feel boring or unappealing for whatever reason. That’s when switching things up can be the right move. Adding lemon or lime juice to the water or trying different herbal tea flavors could be helpful.
There are dozens of ways to add a little flavoring to water that doesn’t add sugar or other harmful ingredients.
Avoid Alcohol or Other Dehydrating Foods and Drinks
Some foods and beverages have diuretic properties, like coffee or alcohol. That means they can cause the body to retain more water than they provide. Limiting these dehydrating foods and drinks is a great idea for any seniors who are trying to improve their overall hydration.
Talking to their doctors can help seniors and home care providers determine whether they should pay closer attention to these changes.
National Hydration Day reminds seniors and family caregivers that water is an important part of their nutritional plan. Home care providers can help families plan effectively and explore additional ways to make hydration easy and enjoyable.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Hillsborough, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400
Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.
- Keeping Seniors Properly Hydrated - June 6, 2025
- What You Should Know About Caring For A Parent With Alzheimer’s - May 23, 2025
- How To Help Your Senior Parent Feel Their Best Every Day - May 14, 2025
