With the exception of camping trips I have never had to draw water and carry it home. The droughts I have experienced meant the lawn and flowerbeds deteriorated, because water was rationed. The water that flows from my taps is potable. I do not need to filter or boil my water. Yet I am in the midst of a water crisis: The octogenarian refuses to drink but a few mouthfuls a day.
Dehydration can lead to:
- Confusion
- Kidney malfunction
- Urinary tract infection
- Death
Confusion is insidious because impaired cognitive function means she doesn’t understand why she must drink. She hates to drink. She always has. She had youth on her side; her age works against her now.
Have you checked the liquid intake of your elderly folk?
