During my weekly physiotherapy session, as the therapist was contributing to my continued ambulation, moving my legs this way and that, pushing, bending, stretching, conversation got around to water; hydration and the importance of monitoring fluid intake in seniors and elderly. Geriatric terrier, Miss Lexie, was supervising the work-out. She loves water!
Each morning, I drink two full glasses to put the my brain in gear; my therapist said he does the same. Morning hydration sets the stage for the first hours of the day when we are engaged in preparing breakfast, feeding pets, getting ready to start our work day inside or outside of the home. Watering the body is just as important as fuelling with solid food within the first hour of waking — break-the-fast.
Hydration is critical to ensure sufficient joint lubrication. Ever notice when you walk, you sometimes hear bones creaking/scraping? Or when you move your arms or head, you feel and hear bones grinding? That is a clue to the need for more water; your body sending you messages to ‘top up’ not unlike when you fill your car with gas when it’s almost running on Empty. All very logical. Your body is a machine that requires daily fine tuning with water, food, exercise, mental an d physical stimulation, and rest. Sometimes, situations present that interfere with the daily routine. For the past number of months, COVID has really messed with our daily routines. Folks working at home have relaxed schedules and may forego regular meal times and totally ignore signals to hydrate.
Symptoms of dehydration in the elderly may sometimes be subtle, but not drinking enough water and fluids can have impact on aging bodies such as mine. Severe dehydration can lead to confusion, weakness, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bedsores in bedridden patients, and other serious conditions. Aging with cerebral palsy, I don’t move about a lot, but each day, I undertake several routine range of motion exercises that I’ve done for years.
I educated myself early about the impact of aging on cerebral palsy of the spastic diplegic type and got into the habit decades ago of drinking lots of water, notably hot lemon water with clove and honey, convinced that this particular hot beverage has contributed to my good health. Certainly, by virtue of not being one to go and about much, even pre-COVID, my risk of flu and the like is reduced. That does not mean that I can’t/won’t ‘catch’ something during my city travels. That I protect myself with ‘top-shelf’ nutrition and supplements to enhance bone and muscle integrity ensures that as I approach my 70s and beyond, I”ll be in good shape physically, mentally and emotionally. I am what I eat. So too, I am what I drink.
I never gave much thought to becoming dehydrated, as water has been a huge part of my day. I do, however, often think about people in care homes or those at home alone who forget to drink enough water. In the care home setting, I’ve always felt that staff should look to making rounds with trays of water; even flavoured water might be an alternative for those who claim not to like water. After meals, offer a glass of water to aid digestion. Offering beforehand tends to create a full feeling and people may not eat enough of their meal. Sufficient water intake contributes to a greater level of alertness and concurrent lessening of combativeness which is found in some patients with early, or even fully involved dementia. Drinking up really does improve mood and that makes life more pleasant for everyone.
From the medical/physical perspective, severe dehydration is a potentially life-threatening emergency; it can cause serious damage to kidneys, heart, and brain; to avoid severe hydration, respond to signs of dehydration by drinking fluids that rehydrate. Through the day, I do what I call my ritual walk-about. I keep 500ml bottles of tap water in the fridge and grab one before I walk and then have another when I finish. A third bottle is carried back to my desk or to the table by my lounge chair. Sometimes, I’ll bring two.
As a person with multiple disabilities doing quite well on my own, all things considered, it’s vital that I choose food and liquid that enhance performance of my body so that it doesn’t let me down. Though I’ll never be as graceful as a runway model or figure skater, I do maintain purposeful walking. Given my ‘advanced age’, I’m thankful that I’m still able to put one foot in front of the other so that I may continue independently living, with very few interventions. My life hasn’t changed much in these days and months of COVID. I’ll always choose water.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, the boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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