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How To Get Someone With Dementia To Drink.
Someone with dementia may become dehydrated if they’re unable to recognise that they are thirsty. It is easy for them to forget to drink, and it may be difficult to communicate if they’re thirsty. Knowing how to get someone with dementia to drink enough is important to avoid dehydration. This can cause headaches, increased confusion, urinary tract infections, and constipation, all of which can worsen the symptoms of dementia.
Complications of Dehydration.
Generally, as people age, their sensation of thirst changes. This can mean they don’t feel thirsty despite not drinking enough. Someone with dementia may experience similar changes. They may be less able or likely to get themselves a drink.
Leaving drinks in plain sight of someone with dementia doesn’t mean they will drink them. An empty glass doesn’t mean that the person has finished the drink. It may have been drunk by someone else, spilt or tipped away.
Helping someone with dementia drink enough.
- Ensure a drink is available when the person is eating.
- Use a clear glass or brightly coloured cup to help them notice a drink is there.
- If possible, hand a drink to the person; if left, they may not understand it is for them.
- Offer a variety of drinks. Many elderly people do not enjoy plain water.
- Many foods contain plenty of water, including jelly, mushrooms, melon, cucumber, grapes and tomatoes and strawberries. Scientists understand that water-rich foods hydrate for longer than drinks.
- Nutritionists have created sweets called Jelly Drops®, which may help people with dementia consume more water.
Droplet Drinking System.
This innovative drinking system prompts you to drink with recorded voice messages. The video provides the details and the system can be purchased here. (Amazon Link)
Droplet has been well thought through and designed. It’s ideal for anyone living alone, in a care home or hospital. The whole system combines a mug and a pale blue drinking beaker, which is designed to make the water look lovely and cool.
In trials, it has been shown to increase fluid intake by up to 60%
Using the Droplet system may help to reduce the risk of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), falls and even sepsis.
