Home Health Care: Why Seniors Should Drink More Water
Home Health Care: Given that water makes up more than 60% of the human body, staying hydrated is critical to maintaining appropriate physical function.
Human bodies lose more than eighty ounces of water every day as adults via typical activities. Elderly persons are more vulnerable to dehydration, one of the leading reasons for hospitalization beyond age 65. Because dehydration can have serious repercussions for elders, home health care must understand the causes and symptoms of dehydration and how to help their loved ones stay adequately hydrated.
Home Health Care in Indianapolis IN: Senior Hydration
Older adults experience physiological changes as a natural part of the aging process, increasing our risk of getting dehydrated.
Seniors often lose their sensation of thirst as they age and thus do not drink enough water. Our metabolic rate slows as you age, and you require fewer calories.
Seniors are not as physically active as they used to be, and their appetites diminish, they consume less food, and as a result, they consume fewer fluids from solid food sources. This is problematic for the elderly, as practically everyone obtains approximately half of their daily water intake from solid foods and fruit and vegetable juices. In-home care can help ensure that seniors are getting the proper fruits and vegetables.
Additionally, medication, mental stress, exercise, overall health, and the weather all affect our fluid balance.
Many seniors suffer from chronic health concerns such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease and might be on medications that make them more prone to dehydration.
Furthermore, as a senior ages, their bodies lose part of their natural ability to regulate temperature, leaving seniors more susceptible to environmental temperature variations. One such alteration is the thinning of the subcutaneous fat layer beneath the skin, which works as a natural insulator against heat and cold.
Additionally, because seniors sweat less, it is more difficult to stay cool, increasing their risk of becoming overheated. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the two most serious conditions that can occur due to heat and exposure to high temperatures in seniors, both of which are predominantly caused by dehydration.
Home Health Care: Dehydration occurs when salts and water are lost from our bodies due to excessive perspiration, intense heat, vomiting, diarrhea, and some drugs.
Severe dehydration can be fatal in the elderly, as there is insufficient fluid in the body to transport blood to the organs. Dehydration symptoms, like those of various other curable health disorders, can be practically identical to those of senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dehydration is most frequently manifested by persistent fatigue, lethargy, muscle weakness or cramps, headaches, dizziness, nausea, amnesia, disorientation, rapid, deep breathing, or an elevated heart rate.
The most critical strategy to prevent dehydration in elderly folks is to ensure they consume adequate fluid. Seniors and adults of all ages should consume at least 64 ounces of fluids each day, such as water or non-caffeinated beverages. Caffeinated beverages increase urination and dehydrate the body.
Many fruits and vegetables contain water, so including them in a nutritionally balanced daily diet will help you stay hydrated. Include melons, berries, apples, oranges, and peaches among your fruits.
Additionally, lettuce, cucumbers, celery, and cauliflower are all excellent vegetables. Maintain a constant water supply, especially if you are caring for an elderly individual with mobility issues. If the taste of water bothers you, consider flavoring it using powdered drink mixes that include no added sugar. A home health care services provider can be a great help with this.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Health Care in Indianapolis, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
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As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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