Dehydration 

A person’s overall risk of dehydration generally increases with age due to a natural loss in one’s sense of thirst, taking medications that promote fluid loss, and the consumption of alcohol and/or caffeinated beverages.

The risk of dehydration is even greater for those with dementia, and it becomes more concerning as the disease progresses.

 During the early stages of dementia, a person may simply forget to drink because they are less sensitive to thirst and/or cannot recall when they last took a drink. Those with moderate dementia often have difficulty remembering the mechanics of how to drink, such as turning on the faucet, where the glasses are stored, or even how to get fluid into a glass. The risk of dehydration is most severe in the advanced stage of dementia due to not recognizing one’s thirst, having a complete loss of thirst or being unable to express thirst to others.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration:

Increased confusion and/or a change in usual behavior are the first signs that someone with dementia may be dehydrated. Additional behavior changes associated with inadequate fluid intake include weakness, fatigue, agitation, muscle cramping in the arms and legs, nausea and dizziness.

Changes in urination such as infrequent urination and/or dark amber or strong smelling urine can also signal dehydration. Dehydration can also lead to urinary tract infection which can worsen dementia symptoms.

How to encourage proper water intake⁉

Have a drink on hand whenever the person is eating something.

Use a clear glass so the person can see what’s inside, or try a brightly colored cup to draw attention instead.

If possible, offer the person the cup or put it where they can see it clearly.

Offer different types of drink throughout the day such as tea, coffee, hot and cold milky drinks, fruit juice or smoothies, soup and water.

Encourage the person to eat foods that have a high liquid content, such as, ice lollies and yoghurt.