What challenges do older adults face with staying hydrated?

A

Andrew21

New Member
I’m researching the specific challenges older adults face with hydration, how it affects health, and the strategies people use to address it. Staying hydrated is essential, yet older adults often encounter unique barriers—whether due to health issues, mobility challenges, medications, or simply lower awareness of thirst.

For caregivers, I’d love to hear about your observations, challenges, and any routines you’ve found useful for encouraging hydration. What reminders, schedules, or tools have made a difference? Have you seen any changes in health or well-being that you feel relate to hydration?

Older adults: What do you find helpful or challenging about staying hydrated? Are there specific times or situations where it’s easier or harder to remember to drink? Any thoughts on changes you’ve made that work well?

Insights on these topics can help build a broader understanding of hydration needs, the day-to-day difficulties older adults face, and practical solutions. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!
 

I drink electrolytes every day since I also follow a Ketogenic diet. I don't find it hard to do since I am home all the time. After my two cups of coffee in the early morning I start drinking the electrolytes through out my day. I mix up (the brand I use is powdered) 2 quart jars of them and keep them in the refrigerator. There is one chocolate flavored one I sometimes drink hot and it is like hot cocoa.

On a keto diet your body does not hold water so it is important to get sodium, potassium & magnesium. If I don't have enough my feet swell more and I get muscle cramps in the calves of my legs.

If I go anywhere I usually take the electrolytes in my water bottle with me. I have no trouble remembering to drink it anymore.
 
I'm severely dehydrated, my last blood work shows. Also anemic. That's why GP insisted I make appointment with Gastroenterologist which is coming up soon.
 

We find that it's simply forgetting to take bottles of water with us. Fortunately, there are now more 'refill stations' where you can get drinking water.
Now, here's a question. In hot climates, or if you're simply exerting yourself, is water on its own good enough, or do you need something else to keep things right? I found at times when hill walking, although I had plenty of water, I was prone to bouts of cramp in my calf muscles.
 
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For me it’s just a habit from a weight loss diet.

I fill a half gallon refrigerator bottle with tap water when I’m cleaning up the kitchen and drink it through the day.

It’s not really a big chore if you have a glass of water with each meal and another between meals.

I believe that many elderly people, with mobility issues, unconsciously restrict liquids to reduce trips to the bathroom and it becomes a downward spiral.
 
Unfortunately--and I read about this on the Mayo Clinic website so maybe there's something to it--there's a new theory that some people are "born to be" dehydrated because their bodies incorrectly process most of the water they drink by sending most of it directly to their bladders. Some symptoms--which I know from first-hand experience--constant thirst, frequent headaches, constipation, muscle cramps, dry throat. And drinking more water does nothing since the body's not processing it correctly in the first place.
 
Personally, I've found that having water bottles or pitchers placed strategically around the house, with reminders to sip throughout the day, has made a big difference for me. Setting hydration goals and tracking intake have helped, too. And I agree that electrolyte supplements can be really useful, especially for those on restrictive diets.
 
I have the opposite issue.

I'm on diuretics and have been told to limit water intake to 2 liters/day including cooking (water added when cooking oatmeal, etc.), coffee, and so on. Two doctors told me that a lot of people are drinking far too much water for proper health, often exacerbated by salt intake or worse yet liquids "with electrolytes" (i.e. more salts). Ultimately, aging kidneys are often being overtaxed not to mention lymphatic fluid buildup.

I was told to use a small bottle and a straw and only take small sips when I feel thirsty.
 
dilettante said:
I have the opposite issue.

I'm on diuretics and have been told to limit water intake to 2 liters/day including cooking (water added when cooking oatmeal, etc.), coffee, and so on. Two doctors told me that a lot of people are drinking far too much water for proper health, often exacerbated by salt intake or worse yet liquids "with electrolytes" (i.e. more salts). Ultimately, aging kidneys are often being overtaxed not to mention lymphatic fluid buildup.

I was told to use a small bottle and a straw and only take small sips when I feel thirsty.
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Sometimes ice chips/cubes can be refreshing.
 
I've never carried or purchased a bottle of water in my life. As the Australian Aborigine saying goes, "The best water bottle is your stomach."

I do drink plenty of water at home just by keeping a glass by the sink. I never drink juice or soda. Coffee in the morning but only water with meals. I try to slow it down in the evening for better sleep.

We do all need to be careful if we become ill. It's so easy to become dehydrated if you're just lying in bed with the flu or Covid.
 
George1959 said:
I think, at lot of people, especially the elderly, don't notice that they become dehydrated, since they often don't feel thirsty. Sometimes this happens to me also.
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I have gotten out of the habit of proper hydration, partly because of my lack of feeling thirsty, and also avoidance of having frequent BR visits.
 
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When should I start paying attention to "proper hydration" ? I retired 32 years ago and I'm 91 now. I've never given "proper hydration" a second thought and none of my doctors, over the years, have brought it up.
Like most folks, I have coffee, soda, milk, or water with my meals and in between when I'm thirsty. That's it. Is this some "gotta have it' gotta do it" scheme that's been "invented" in recent years? Thankfully, my lack of awareness hasn't seemed to damage me too badly.
 
Capt Lightning said:
We find that it's simply forgetting to take bottles of water with us. Fortunately, there are now more 'refill stations' where you can get drinking water.
Now, here's a question. In hot climates, or if you're simply exerting yourself, is water on its own good enough, or do you need something else to keep things right? I found at times when hill walking, although I had plenty of water, I was prone to bouts of cramp in my calf muscles.
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As a former marathon runner, I suggest sports drinks, Pedialyte or Coconut water.

I was told by numerous trainers when I was running marathons that I should be frisking 60 ounces of water each day. Later, I was told I could exchange some of the water for sports drinks, which I did. They provided the electrolytes, vitamins and minerals. Gatorade now makes a similar drink to Pedialyte, which I have included in my diet. Between water and Gatorlyte, I get about 48-60 ounces of hydration each day. I quit drinking anything after 8 p.m.
 
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While growing up had a habit of spending hours outdoors without ever drinking fluids that has carried through as an adult. Often will backpack and or hike for miles over hours without drinking anything. And when I do drink, it seems to filter out quickly. At night sleeping always have a water bottle nearby to help move any food through my GI tract.

As an elite snow skier, will often ski strenuously for hours, not take a lunch break, while not being aware I've not drank anything. That noted, I can become quite thirsty and frequently drink a lots of water once temperatures rise above higher levels causing sweating. Of course am also in some dimensions unusually healthy so that does grate against narratives the need to drink fluids is universal.
 
I only drink Deer Park water. I don’t like plain water, but Deer Park tastes better than tap water. I also buy those packets of Gatorade mixers to change the taste from time to time. I drink about 3 bottles a day.
 

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