MIL isn’t drinking and she keeps getting UTI’s. Other than sitting with her and constantly reminding her to drink what else can be done?

My mother drinks flavored drinks much better than water so I serve her favorite lemonade during the day and switch to water in the evening. She likes cereal with milk, cantaloupe, watermelon, and watermelon sherbet, fruits like apples and nectarines, and many watery vegetables too (cucumber and tomatoes with a light dressing). etc. Mom also likes her coffee with a sweet like a pop tart or a couple slices of a pound cake.

After checking with her doctor you might want to try a cranberry supplement to help reduce the UTIs.

I use a baby monitor with an intercom to respond quicker to my mother and at times to keep in touch without needing to walk back to her room. Maybe you could ask her how much of her drink is still in her glass over the intercom?

This going up and down stairs sounds horrible for you. Take care of yourself too! Can't she somehow be on the first floor? Even it it's not a true bedroom, with her being bedridden....

Yes basically impossible to get the elderly to drink enough. She will end up in the hospital which might not be such a bad thing. She'll probably get IV fluid to get hydrated and that's probably the only way it will happen!

I would also consider if she needs to be in a nursing home. This is a challenging situation, no doubt.

Does she need to be evaluated by hospice? Not sure of what else is wrong with her?

Good luck.

Soups, or cider (not the alcoholic kind).   I would have added fruit juice but after reading about heavy metals in some, I no longer drink them and wouldn't recommend them.

Does she like, and can she eat ice cream?    Or sherbet?   Sometimes a little bit more sugar does the trick!

My MIL’s NH put a large plastic jug with her daily water ‘ration’ in her room, and topped up her glass from that. It made it very easy for carers and for MIL (who didn’t have dementia) to see how she was going, and it encouraged her to try to get through it each day. Lots of compliments when she did!

Well, you can try giving her foods high in water content like:

Cucumber, 96% water. – that's the highest water content of any food.
Tomatoes, 95% water. 
Spinach, 93% water.
Broccoli, 90% water. ...
Brussel sprouts, 88% water. ...
Oranges, 86% water. ...
Apples, 85% water.
Blueberries: 84% water
Mushrooms, 92% water

Trying to get a 90 year old bedridden woman to drink water is nearly impossible, as you're seeing yourself. The UTIs will just keep coming and wind up putting her in the hospital, more than likely.

It may be time to consider placing MIL in a Skilled Nursing Facility at this point; have you thought about doing that? My aunt was living with her daughter, bedridden as well, for several years. My cousin called us to let us know mom was dying and to come say our goodbyes. We did and she looked pretty bad. For some reason I cannot remember, my cousin wound up placing her in a SNF and my aunt wound up living 4 more years; as they were able to get her out of bed every day and mingling with the other residents, eating in the dining room, and things of that nature.

Just a thought. So sorry you are dealing with such a frustrating issue. Wishing you all the best of luck moving forward.

Why is she bedridden? How old is she? What else is going on with her? I ask because while dehydration is a huge concern in the elderly, it's also tricky as to how much fluids they really need. If she has little activity, she may be getting adequate hydration, even if it seems like very little in comparison to what you may require. You are a lot more active than she is. Her cells can only take in so much. Any more than that results in swelling in other places due to too much fluid. I know this because we used to push my mother to drink because we thought she wasn't drinking enough and her feet began to swell. Her UTI's may be or may not be due to inadequate hydration. Have you spoken to her doctor?
In the meantime, I'd set a bottle of water by her bed and if she is thirsty, she will drink. Also popsicles are a good way to get fluids in people, along with fruit drinks or even decaffeinated tea or coffee or even broth. She might do better with hot drinks.

It's difficult for some people to drink a lot of fluids. I'm not sure why. I think that what you're doing is good. I can sip on some things, like coffee or tea, but, when it comes to a container of water, I just knock it out quick by drinking a 16 oz water in a minute or two. I doubt a frail senior would have the stamina for that though. Could you pay her to drink it? I know it sounds odd, but, I'd do anything to help prevent the UTI.

Also, I've read on this site that a supplement called D-Mannose is good. I told my mom about it and she's going to get the clear from her doctor before starting. You might ask her doctor about that. Also, what about other things that have fluid like jello? I think what you have is a common problem.

I hope you'll get some more suggestions.