I take care of my dad who has dementia that causes anger. He has stage 3 kidney disease and should be drinking at least 6 glasses of water per day. He refuses water, and basically any fluids. This is a constant battle. I have had to call the paramedics out at least 3 times this month because he gets dehydrated. Flavored water does not help. He will not drink tea or soda. Please help.
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Yes, I don't have a profile page anymore. I will send you a message today! :)
May I refer you to other numerous posts on this topic?
Hydration Tips for Seniors
https://www.agingcare.com/topics/221/hydration
Watermelon sounds really good. I use a bullet and love it. Or get a juicer. The entire watermelon, skins and all, go in and get all the nutrition. p.s. I don't like watermelon although I do like the juice. I also love cantaloupe. I think it turns green or something pretty. A juicer [or my preference, a bullet] is great for your dad - and you. I have a very good recipe I 'drink' most days, includes ginger root and garlic. Just a little. and much more. If you want it the recipe, please let me know.
My mom loves the new peach mango drink, I just thicken it up a bit. She smiles when I give it to her. I also gave her the strawberry banana today. I had a glass of the peach mango, very tasty.
I'm so glad your mom loves the peach/mango drink and that you liked it as well. That's nice too that you can thicken it up so it's the consistency she's able to drink.
I just took my mom another 12-pack of the peach/mango as she just finished the orange/pineapple.
But most of all I'm so glad it puts a smile on her face when you give it to her and I'm sure you love that too!
Hugs to both you and your mom! :)
I purchased V8 peach mango today, wondering if I should wait until the strawberry banana is finished before opening this one. What do you think? I am so glad my mother has this option. It thickens to a good consistency. So happy my mom can have this. The Splash drink sounds good too. Thanks so much, fluids are getting easier for my mom to consume. Hugs to you.
Good, the Peach/Mango is our favorite! I buy the 6 or 12 pack cans (they're thin and skinny and easy to drink with a straw). If you bought the big bottle, I'm wondering if you bought the V8 "Fusion" drink. I would finish the strawberry banana unless you go through it pretty fast (it will keep in the fridge for 10-14 days according to some information I read). If that's the case you could go ahead and open the peach/mango as well and switch back and forth. Otherwise, if she only drinks a little at a time, I would finish the one before opening the other. That's why I like the little cans because I can keep a variety in the fridge without worrying about spoilage.
The Nestle "Splash" drink is more like a water with a hint of flavoring. Two totally different types of drinks.
I'm so glad that your mom is finding fluids easier to consume and I hope you both will continue to enjoy these drinks. It's always nice to have a variety!
Hugs to you too!
What an excellent idea - I would have never thought of that! I'm going to look into it the next time I go to the store and add it to the other drinks I buy her. Thank you so much!
You mentioned a good point about a lot of older people don't want to drink too much because they will have to go to the bathroom frequently especially when they have incontinence issues. I have often wondered if that's why my 95 year old mom doesn't want to drink a lot. She was like that old commercial "gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now." Even when she was in her mid-80's and we were out somewhere, I had to make several emergency bathroom stops. I think it's stressful for her thinking she might not be able to hold it long enough until she gets to the bathroom.
As he goes through the process of going from today towards the last day of his life - are you going to fight him at every turn?
You are allowing a lot of stress into your life.
Do you believe that he will magically become a 35 year old again?
Do you believe that - one day, he will die? It is natural that this is a process.
As we are entering the autumn of the year, do you not see evidence around you of a slowing of this life - making the new life of spring?
My 90 yr old friend has to be reminded to have some water, even when we are out and about in 115° weather. She worries about having to use the bathroom to frequently and doesn't feel thirsty, double whammy for staying hydrated. I just remind her frequently and that helps.
Thanks for the recommendation about the Splash drink. I am going to get that as well. It will be nice for my mom to try different beverages. I appreciate the help and I will certainly keep you updated. Your mother will be 96 on Valentine's day, how nice. Hope she is doing well.
I'm glad you liked the "Splash" recommendation and yes, please let me know what you both think about them. I too, like to give my mom variety! :)
I'd say your mom is doing very good to drink nearly 40 oz per day at 96 with dementia. I too have a hard time meeting the daily requirements for water intake so I'm reading the suggestions not just for her but, for me as well! Also my mom, who is almost 96 with Alzheimer's, was in the hospital in April from severe dehydration (and nearly died) along with COVID. She was in rehab for three weeks too but, has never been the same since and is now under hospice care at a new facility in their memory care wing.
Aside from the V8 Energy + drinks I told you about earlier, another good one I've recently tried is the Nestle brand "Splash" - a natural flavored water beverage, with 0 sugars and 5 calories. I've been buying them for my mom and I drink them too. They come in Lemon, Acai Grape, Mandarin Orange and Wild Berry. Sometimes I mix them with half regular water to lighten it up a bit. I've tried two of the flavors so far - I like the Wild Berry the best and then the Mandarin Orange. At 97 your mom is doing great drinking 40 oz everyday with the items you've been giving her! My mom will be 96 on Valentine's Day.
Then, what ever fluids he does like give to him.. my Dad likes Milk so offer him a breakfast bar, ect with a little glass of milk every couple hours.
Also, serve more food with liquid like Soup.
Give him a liquid breakfast shake everyday.
I would use the same tactic with my mom telling her she would end up in the hospital again if she became severely dehydrated. For her she would forget but now that she's at a new facility in their memory care unit, they always have fluids next to her. Prior to COVID when she lived in an ALF, I would bring drinks but, couldn't make sure she had them in front of her even if I told her over the phone - she either would forget or just wouldn't do it.
Revoke hospice, back on regular Medicaid. Get it done (only takes 10 minutes or less) in hospital, then back home and good to go! On discharge, get her back on hospice. Watch for complications..but with GOOD CARE of the tube those are very rare.
Mom did great with it. She did not die of Alzheimer's. Other natural causes. Because of the feeding tube she made it to 90. and she was well cared for.
I checked daily residuals and when she started retaining I knew she was dying as she was no longer digesting as her body was shutting down. Only then I stopped the tube feedings and water flushes. She died a few days later. That was a big change since normally she would digest everything.
i understand the doctors are recommending his kidneys stay flushed, but because your Dad’s kidneys are not processing properly, he is instinctively rejecting the water and can’t help that it repulses him. If he seems difficult, remember that he feels absolutely terrible.
When I was in your situation, I felt very impatient, frustrated and hopeless.
Praise your dad every time he takes small sips. He may respond best to this positive interaction. Be very patient and calm.
Thr kidney problems (along with the dehydration, electrolytes, etc.) are compounding his confusion.
Great comment and you certainly are living up to your "screenname"!
Ahhh, sherbert/sherbet - what a great idea. I normally, buy my mom ice cream but, the flavors she used to eat a long time ago have nuts in them and I've tried not to give her nuts for dental reasons. I can't wait to go get that for her instead of just vanilla ice cream.
This thread reminds me that "pooling" everyone's thoughts and ideas is what is the most helpful to those who are on the forum seeking help/advice!