Caregivers should be mindful of hydration when dealing with their loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease. Since your loved one has Alzheimer’s, he/she may forget to drink or not realize that they are thirsty. Their medications can also be dehydrating; for example, blood pressure drugs could dry them out even if they drink some water. And vomiting or having diarrhea for more than a day can cause dehydration in Alzheimer’s patients, as it does with anyone else.
Simply saying to them, “drink something” may not help. They may not follow through. If you make it easier for them by handing them a glass, they are more likely to drink. (watch them and remind them to sip it.) Fruit has a lot of water in it, too, so if they don’t want to drink water or juice, offer an orange.
Signs of dehydration in anyone include being more confused or lethargic than usual. The person’s sodium level goes up and confusion results (which also happens when sodium is decreased). But in someone with dementia, this change may be hard to notice. Still, watch for changes relative to how they usually behave. If they seem even more mixed up or lethargic than usual, and if they also feel warm to the touch, alert your doctor. Sometimes people for whom this is a recurrent problem need to have an IV put in temporarily.
Ed Picard, Respite Center Coordinator
Charlie’s Place Respite Center
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