Friday, 25 July 2014

Hydration App for the Older Person

Appropriate hydration is very important for well being.  In older people it can contribute to significant health issues.  For some older people, particularly with altered smell and taste, it can cause drinking pattern changes.  Some individuals need to limit their fluid intake, while others do not drink regularly enough.  Lack of adequate hydration can contribute to falls in the elderly.  A very useful app for fluid intake is "Daily Water" (free).

The desired number of glasses of fluid per day can be nominated and there is an option to set an alarm as a reminder.  It can be used by those on fluid restriction or people who require prompting with drinking.

I was working with  Henry who had significant constipation issues and used the app to encourage increased fluid intake.  He was surprised at how much he needed to drink, but within days his constipation had improved.

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