Dehydration a concern for both caregiver and aging and ill patients

Dehydration manifests itself similar to many diseases. As people age, they are more prone to becoming dehydrated. Similarly, those who are ill must strive to stay hydrated to maintain quality of life. Many times it is up to the caregiver to determine the hydration level of the care receiver. In order for the caregiver to be able to monitor the patient, the caregiver must also be hydrated. I know when I was my aunt’s caregiver my attention was always directed at her health, not mine. I carefully monitored her liquid intake without ever thinking about mine. Looking back, I know that some of my fatigue, headaches, and lack of focus were because I was not staying hydrated myself. The aging parents and elder care site provides a very good discussion of the signs and symptoms of dehydration and a list of the water content in foods that you can offer your patient and munch on yourself.

Great program to help caregivers feed elderly parents

I know that it is hard to determine what my mom is eating. I am a long distance caregiver. I ask every day what she eats. Many times she cannot remember. When I am there for a few days, she seems to eat all the right things. However, I don’t cook like I should because of my limited time with her. Hence, we go out and she is not getting the complete nutrition she needs. She now is pre-osteoporosis so she needs more calcium. I have suggested meals on wheels to her but she has had friends say that the food is inconsistent. A program in Albany has been created to help with the stress caregivers feel trying to feed their elderly relatives and friends. The program called “Cooking under pressure.” This program provides a handbook with shopping tips, recipes, and actual help plan and shop for meals. You can checkout this website for more resources. All of us that have cared for family with cancer or other illnesses, as well as our elderly parents, know that trying to find food that is good for them and that they will eat is one of the most difficult aspects of caregiving. I know that when I was caring for my aunt with breast cancer, I went up and down the aisle looking for things I had not thought of before. Hopefully, there are programs such as this in your area.