How do I get an elderly man to drink water?

Question

G

girlafraid1991 Asked October 2013

How do I get an elderly man to drink water?

I am a home health aide and work for a 90 year old man with Alzheimer's who has had two surgeries in the past month (prostrate surgery). The doctor has asked that he drink at least five full glasses of water a day to help flush his body out to to recover from the surgery. Since I am his home health aide, this is primarily my responsibility and it is proving to be very challenging.

The main problem with this is that he thinks he has already drank enough when he hasn't. I have tried arguing with him about this but it makes things worse. I have tried reminding him what his doctor has said about drinking water and this doesn't work either. Understandably, his daughter is starting to get upset with me because I cannot get him to drink. I just don't know what to do. I am afraid his health will get worse from this or that I will lose a job that I love. Please help! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Alzheimer's & Dementia

10 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First

Recent Questions

Related Questions

score 0 · Answer 1

I'd say part of this problem is an "attention getter", so if he doesn't want to drink, 1) he is wanting attention; or 2) he is ready to "go". Either way, you can't make him drink, so good luck to you and best wishes.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 2

Try flavoring it with Scotch or bourbon.....that oughta' work!

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 3

He probably won't drink water because it tastes of nothing. Try flavoring the water or try grape flavored Gatorade, but be careful of his sugar intake. If he won't drink anything, he will need to go to the hospital and get re-hydrated via intravenously. I agree with 75104 about the fruit juice. If the fluids taste good to him, he will drink more. When I get sick of drinking water, I drink sugar-free lemonade (Crystal Lite).

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 4

How about this. Put all 40 oz of water in an attractive pitcher that he can see. Advise him that this is the amount of water his doctor has prescribed to drink today. And just encourage him to do it. I know it has worked for me.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 2 · Answer 5

I am a caregiver to my grandpa who has dementia and I can answer this question. Before he wasn't drinking enough either but now since I've been squeezing lemon juice in his water, he has been drinking more. Not only does it make the water taste better but there are many health benefits of drinking lemon water as well. He drinks it with every meal. Use real lemons, not the one from the bottle. Cut out lemon wedges, squeeze juice out and stir in cup of water. Drop used lemon wedges in cup for more aroma and flavor. Drink cold with crushed ice or room temperature water.

I also give grandpa fruit juice - apple juice, fruit & vegetable juice (V8), smoothies. I noticed that when I serve drink with a straw, he drinks more. Add more water to the drinks so it's not 2 sweet.

Hope this helps!

Helpful Answer (2)

score 0 · Answer 6

Lessons learned at the memory care center I observed --- Small glasses with each meal. They add up, one water, one another beverage (juice, milk, tea, etc) Beverage breaks mid morning and mid afternoon, again smaller glasses. (They are seen as more do-able than large ones). Again, 2 beverages at dinner. Jello and Broth help. Mix it up and ask the daughter to make sure the beverages he will drink, are available. You might also prompt him and encourgae, by stating that you will do something he likes once he finishes his beverage.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 7

Any kind of fluid should help. How about some soups with a lot of broth? Hot tea or hot chocolate? Warm apple cider? Stews with lots of broth? Would it help to have a "chart" with the five glasses per day and mark them off each time he drinks one, so he can see that? I'm not sure if that would work with his Alzheimers.

If his daughter is critical, I'd ask her for suggestions. I bet she couldn't get him to drink either.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 2 · Answer 8

You can lead a man to water, but you can't make him drink

Helpful Answer (2)

score 0 · Answer 9

All he will drink is decaf coffee. He will have several cups of that a day. When the weather was warmer, he would eat a lot of fruit and fruit popsicles but not so much now that it is starting to get cold out. Sometimes I can get him to drink apple juice or orange juice if he has it in the house.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 10

Thats tough I have had this issue too! You cannot force anything period. The daughter might give it a try herself and tell her you will take notes. Depends on what he is drinking dehydration could and should be the concern. Does he drink anything? More details are needed to offer some possible suggestion.

Helpful Answer (0)

How do I get an elderly man to drink water?

10 Answers

Recent Questions

Popular Questions

Related Questions

Ask a Question