Here at The Birches on Maple Assisted Living and Memory Care, we take great pride in our holistic approach to managed care. We invest heartfelt time and energy managing this senior care blog for the purpose of assisting those of you at-home senior care providers to help you deliver the best care possible. We want all of you to consider us a ready resource for information and advice that is intended to help improve your quality of life as well.

With steadily rising outdoor temperatures, we thought it smart to cover the VERY important topic of hydration. Every bit of advice listed below should be considered advice for both you and your senior loved one. So here you go, seven tips to stay hydrated this summer:

1. Drink a large glass of water first thing in the morning.


2. Keep a water bottle with you during the day– the more accessible it is, the more you'll drink it. Suggested areas: in your car and your living room chair or couch.


3. Add some cucumber, mint leaves, or lemon slices to your water to keep it interesting.


4. Plan for water breaks when doing an activity. It's a good habit to build in breaks to your day to stay hydrated.


5. Have a "Hydration contest". Make it a game with your partner, coworkers, or family to hit your target water consumption each day.


6. Eat your water: You don't have to just drink your water. Some fruits and vegetables have high water content and will help keep you hydrated throughout the day. Here's a short list of foods with lots of water: watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, spinach, and celery.


7. Sip before you snack. Oftentimes, when we feel hungry, we're actually thirsty. True hunger will not be curbed by drinking water. Before grabbing a snack, drink some water. You may notice your snacking habits change!



[Bonus for you parents out there!]

8. Cranky kids? Dehydration is a major contributor to irritable kiddos. Keep a water bottle nearby for them and hopefully their frowns turn upside-down!

Why is water so important?

Our bodies are made up nearly 60% of water and kids are an even greater percentage. Every cell, tissue and organ in our body relies on water. For example, our bodies rely on water to regulate temperature, remove toxins, and keep our joints lubricated. When we talk about hydration, it means keeping our water levels in our bodies in a healthy range so we can function at our best.

Are you drinking enough water?

You should drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. (Ex: If you weigh 120lbs, you should drink 60 ounces of water each day.). One of the simplest ways to know if you’re drinking enough water is the color of your urine. In most cases, a well-hydrated person will have colorless or light yellow urine. If it is dark yellow or amber, it may be a sign of dehydration. Another telltale sign you’re dehydrated? You’re thirsty. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated and you need to pick it up!

We’re glad to have you here on our assisted living and memory care blog and hope you find it useful. Refer back to the above links to our four chiropractic clinics and call us anytime you have questions regarding how we can help you manage pain.