Do You Know the Signs of Dehydration?

There are lots of obvious signs of dehydration, like not sweating even in the heat, but some of the signs that your senior is dehydrated might not be as obvious. Depending on when you’re able to spend time with her, some of the less obvious signs might be the ones you need to pay attention to the most.

Home Care Services in Longmont CO: Dehydration Signs
Home Care Services in Longmont CO: Dehydration Signs



Headaches Are Common with Dehydration

One of the most common complaints you might hear if your senior is dehydrated could be that she’s having more headaches than usual. When she’s dehydrated, your senior’s body experiences changes in electrolyte and fluid levels all throughout her body. That can lead to other side effects, too. Drinking a few glasses of water can help to ease these headaches if they’re caused by dehydration.


Confusion Is Common, Too

Something else she’s likely to experience is confusion, as well. The confusion can be a little bit scary because it might seem to appear out of nowhere. As with the headaches, fluid levels and electrolytes are important to how the brain functions. When your senior’s brain isn’t getting what it needs, she’s not able to think as well as she’s used to thinking.


Her Skin Is More Dry than Usual

Without enough water, your senior’s skin isn’t able to keep up with what it needs. She might start to notice that her skin is much drier than it usually is, even to the point that it becomes irritated or even starts to break down. Her lips might start to get cracked and chapped, too. Lotion and lip balm won’t do much to help this type of dryness because it’s a problem from within. Correcting the dehydration will correct these problems, too.


Her Temperature Feels Different than Usual

When you touch your senior’s skin, she might feel a little warmer or cooler than usual. This happens because temperature regulation might be off due to dehydration. Other health conditions can also make it more difficult for your senior’s body to maintain its temperature. Her skin could also start to feel clammy, rough, or otherwise not normal for her.

Lots of aging family members don’t drink nearly as much water as they should. When that happens, dehydration is a given. You might not be able to spend as much time ensuring your senior is getting properly hydrated as you’d like, which is why having elderly care providers offering assistance to your senior can be helpful.



If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring Home Care Services in Longmont, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.

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