Dehydration in the elderly
As the warm weather fades and we move into autumn it is important to remember to keep well hydrated. Dehydration can pose big health risks for older adults in warm or cold weather.
The elderly are more “at risk” for dehydration for a number of reasons. Our body’s ability to conserve water diminishes with age, which makes it tough to adapt to the fluctuating temperatures we have been having lately. Also the sensation of being thirsty reduces which means someone could be dehydrated before they even feel thirsty. Some medications or medical conditions can also have an impact.
Signs to look out for include headache, constipation, muscle cramps, dry mouth and tongue, and sleepiness or lethargy. Urine should be clear or light yellow for someone who is properly hydrated. If it continues unchecked, it can cause someone to become quite ill, signs of this include little or no urination, dark coloured urine and weakness or dizziness.
Drinking plenty of fluids and eating foods with high water content is a great way to keep our bodies properly hydrated. Water isn’t the only option though, if your family members are anything like mine they do not like drinking plain water all the time. Offer them something that they like as they are more likely to drink it! Tea and coffee are fine as well. Smaller cups on a regular basis may be the best option for someone who is forgetful or has continence issues.
Keeping track of fluid intake is a simple but important part of caring for your loved ones.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Calling All Puzzle Masters! Can You Solve This?
When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height.
Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was.
If the tree grew by five centimetres each year, how much higher would the nail be?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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