The Importance of Drinking Water for Elderly People

Drinking enough water throughout the day is the key to staying healthy and feeling good. It is especially important for older adults since the risk of dehydration increases for seniors.

Why Dehydration Is Common in Older Adults

Throughout the aging process, the body water content reduces. For many older individuals, thirst sensation decreases and they do not tend to get thirsty as fast as they did in their younger days. Also, as with age, the kidney’s ability to retain water and concentrate urine is impaired, and dehydration happens.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Common Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, headaches, confusion, fatigue, dizziness, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, rapid breathing, or increased heartbeat rate.

Benefits of hydration for older adults

1.  Optimization of physical performance

Drinking enough water helps regulate body temperature and blood pressure, boosts the body’s energy levels, supports the immune system, helps delivering oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and flushes the toxins away. It also acts as a lubricant around joints and muscles which help facilitate movement.

2.  Promotes Brain Function

Maintaining good hydration is important for physical and mental health. Cognitive function is improved when the brain cells get the appropriate amount of hydration. A mild dehydration may have a negative impact on mood, memory and thinking processes.

3.  Better Digestive Health

Water aids with digestion at every step of the process. It helps keep everything moving through the digestive system and helps to distribute the nutrients around the body. It also helps defecation and prevents constipation.

4.  Maintain Urinary System Health

Drinking adequate amounts of water helps keeping the urinary track flushed out, which may reduce the risk of bladder infections and urinary tract infections. Also, good hydration helps to keep kidneys functioning to the best of their ability and may lower the risk of developing kidney stones.