July 2022 Blog – Hydration Part Two

Friday, July 1, 2022

Mid-Summer dreams should revolve around fantasies of beautiful drinks! Each of use responds so much better to a drink that is beautifully presented, and looks like it will taste wonderful! The same is true for our persons living with dementia.

You guessed it, our topic for the month is: hydration! If we can consistently be successful in offering a hydration routine to our persons living with dementia – we can keep them out of the hospital. We can prevent dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, falls and bladder infections simply through offering our person enough clear liquids to support their organ health.

How can we be successful, if it is so hard? I am glad you asked.

First, it is important to establish the healthy guideline for your person living with dementia. Usually 50% of body weight in ounces is what we need to survive – this number may change if you have fluid restrictions based on a medical condition.

Here are tips for success using our Memory Bouquet™ as a guide :

• A Lily™ will understands the value of hydration, and can keep an established hydration schedule.
• With our Daisies™ , we need to expect that they will forget to stay on top of their hydration. They need a visual schedule/guide, and visual cues (such as a pitcher with water by their chair or a numbered sequence of bottles in the fridge dated for the day it needs to be consumed) plus a reminder to stay on top of their routine. (this may be an alarm every 2 hours for using the bathroom and drinking a full cup of clear fluid)
• Our Violets™ , and Roses™ needs a structured routine, set by their loved one or care partner.
• For Violets™ and Roses™ something as simple as a full cup of water after each toileting session, a full cup with medications, and a full cup with every meal will set them well on their way!
• Just remember a Violet™ needs encouragement in the moment to finish their drink – when you turn your back they will turn their back!
• And our Rose™ may need tactile cues and encouragement throughout the hydration session.
• Neither the Violet™ or Rose™ has the ability to initiate and finish the task successfully on their own.
• Get creative with the color and flavor of water to entice our person to engage with hydration.
• At the Bouquet™ level we need to honor the wishes of our person for end of life, and quality of life. Does that involve normal liquid or thickened liquids? What are their favorite flavors and choice of drink? How do we keep change or adapt the way we hydrate our person in order for them to swallow efficiently?

We hope these tips and guidelines will enable you and your loved ones to have a beautiful summer!