As we age, the body’s ability to conserve water decreases, and the sense of thirst becomes less noticeable. This makes older adults more vulnerable to dehydration—sometimes without realising it. In fact, studies show that 20% of older adults living in residential care in the UK are chronically dehydrated. Maintaining proper hydration in older adults is crucial for their health.
In this blog, we explore the importance of hydration in later life, how to spot the signs of dehydration, and what care homes like Aurem Care do to ensure residents stay healthy and well-hydrated every day.
Water makes up more than half of the body and plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function. For older adults, staying hydrated supports:
Dehydration can lead to confusion, urinary tract infections (UTIs), constipation, fatigue, and falls—all of which can seriously impact wellbeing. Ensuring proper hydration in older adults helps prevent these issues.
Pro Tip:
“If your loved one seems unusually tired or confused, check if they’ve had enough to drink—it’s one of the most common and easily missed causes.”
There are a few key reasons why hydration needs become more complex with age:
Mild dehydration can escalate quickly. Key signs include:
Don’t wait for someone to say they’re thirsty. Proper hydration in older adults can be ensured by offering drinks throughout the day and making them easily accessible.
Try offering:
Pro Tip:
“Using brightly coloured cups can help residents with dementia or visual impairments notice and enjoy their drinks more easily.”
Hydration isn’t just about fluids—foods with high water content can help too:
For residents with dysphagia, it’s important to follow IDDSI guidelines and provide thickened fluids when needed. Ensuring hydration in older adults may involve working closely with speech and language teams to make drinks safe and enjoyable.
Across all of our homes, we take a proactive approach to hydration by:
Pro Tip:
“Get creative—hydration doesn’t have to be boring. Fruit-infused water jugs or mocktail stations can make drinking fun and sociable!”
Hydration is a simple yet powerful part of daily care that directly impacts comfort, safety, and wellbeing. For older adults, hydration maintenance helps preserve health, prevent illness, and support independence.
At Aurem Care, we prioritise hydration across every home, with tailored strategies and compassionate care that ensure every resident stays well. To learn more about hydration practices for older adults, contact us or visit one of our homes to see how we make hydration a priority every day.
Want to understand more about the link between nutrition and hydration? Explore our blog on Nutrition and Wellbeing in Care Homes: The Importance of Balanced Meals. Staying well-nourished and hydrated go hand in hand to support health, comfort, and quality of life in later years.
Aurem Care homes are all about people caring about people, we believe our care homes should be happy homes for loved ones.
Where older adults can forge worthwhile, meaningful relationships with our team and make new friends.
