Preventing dehydration
People living with dementia have a higher risk of being dehydrated.
There can be several reasons for this:
- inability to explain their needs;
- decreased thirst sensation;
- not offered enough to drink; and,
- swallowing problems in the late stage of dementia.
The person you care for needs to be encouraged to drink 8-10 glasses (1500-2000 millilitres) of fluid (water, iced
lollies, soup and juice, not including tea or coffee every day.
Severe dehydration
Ibrahim has Alzheimer’s disease, but he is able to eat and drink without assistance from his wife, Mariam. Ibrahim likes to walk a lot. One hot afternoon, Mariam also notices that Ibrahim seems very tired, walks very slowly and then collapses on the floor. Ibrahim is sent to the local hospital’s
Emergency Department and is diagnosed with dehydration. After treatment in the hospital, Ibrahim has recovered and is able to go home again.
