My mom has poor kidney function. Her doctor requested that she drink more water throughout the day understanding that it is frustrating due to her incontinence. She has to try. The hard part is.... my mom has always not been a fan of water. Says it has no taste. She is currently in memory care and the caregivers there try as much as they can when they give her meds but that's all she will take, small sips.
My question is, does anyone have any suggestions of anything g to add to water to make it taste better? It has to be water, no juice, or vodka as my mom asked. I know there is crystal light but thought I'd ask for ideas before I go and buy a bunch of different brands to try. Any ideas on this subject would help, thank you.
Beyond that, a couple of tips:
1) Medications should be given one pill at a time - for several reasons, really - but this ensures at least one of those tiny sips per pill! (But more should definitely be encouraged with medication.)
2) Keeping water in reach all the time is a given, but try making it a SMALL glass. The amount seems more manageable to them (you may be surprised by that difference alone) and the results are more measurable for those providing care.
Side notes/other potential tips:
I care for my mom 24/7, so I keep my own glass of water handy also. Periodically throughout the day, I will get her attention and say "cheers!" with my glass raised - and we both take a sip.
Also, if I've been a bit preoccupied (have slipped on monitoring/encouraging intake) and realize she has just not been drinking for a significant portion of the day, I will break out one of our colorful 2 oz. shot glasses and have her drink a "shotta watta" ;) (I literally have her down that amount while I wait.)
Water is the essence of LIFE! Peace and love to all.
Perhaps the staff needs to be more directive and tell her that she needs to drink a full glass (6 to 8 oz.) with her pills so that she doesn't choke. Then, what else can they do? They are with her during the day, but pill time and meals would be when they have the most direct contact. Maybe you could find a photo or poster of a gal drinking a glass of something as a visual reminder to your mom.
It is indeed a challenge. Good luck.
Chewing on ice? Has she been tested for anemia? That is one of the signs.
#2 Lemon
#3 Orange
#4 A variety of additives on the market
Cherry flavored alkaline water
In a 50 oz bottle:
Fill 1/3 with alkaline water
Add 1 cup 100% Tart Cherry Juice
Juice of 1 lemon
1 scoop of Nano Reds Superfood. https://www.biopharmasci.com/nanoreds-resveratrol-supplement-p/4nr10-btl.htm
Shake well.
Add alkaline water & leave 2 inches.
Shake, pour into empty water bottles, and refrigerate.
I know my mother has a diet coke with tons of ice for breakfast/lunch. She will not drink again until dinner at 4:30 and then it's water or about 4 oz of orange juice. No ice water, or anything at all during the day. She has a supra pubic catheter and is still incontinent, to a degree. Her urine is so toxic smelling---she doesn't even fill up the smallest bag in a whole day. I was with her for 5 hours last Sat., it was HOT and in that time I drank a 20 oz Diet Coke, and about 24 oz of bottled water. She drank nothing. I was still thirsty! I'm sure that the fact she doesn't sweat at all and doesn't exert herself makes a difference, and the inconvenience of using the bathroom is annoying, but we cannot get her to drink more. She's stubborn and has dug her heels in.
I'd be thrilled if she chewed ice. Yes, it's bad for her teeth, but she's always dehydrated and if her body is, so is her brain. We NEED our brains to have sufficient cerebral spinal fluid around them to think straight! Mother is far better earlier in the day when she's had fluids. As the day wears on, she gets more addled. I can't help but think some of this has to do with the lack of water in her diet.
in the pitcher of water...Something beautiful,not medicimal looking...How about a flavored slushi...peppermint tea? Glass of water with ice cube with a frozen leaf or flower...