How do you get fluids down someone who refuses to drink anything?

chia seeds briefly boiled in a few teaspoons of water is a great laxative .

If she will drink a hot drink try senna tea. I believe it is sold as smooth move or a diet tea. This will help her have a bm.

How was your first day with hospice?

Are you doing okay? It's a big step and brings a lot of reality to the situation.

Hugs!

Since your mother enjoys jello give her all she wants. Maybe you could use some high protein water to make it with, something that isn't real sweet. Maybe then she might eventually start drinking some. I would ask her Doctor first if that would be ok. Hang in there, I went through the identical situation with my mother a year and a half ago. It is very hard for me too. My heart and prayers are with you. Sherry.

you can get sponges at a home care items stroe

I use ice pops or sponge soaked in water to keep lips moist, received the sponges from hospice.

It sounds like you are doing a great job already and doing as much as you can. I am glad that you have hospice to help out.

Taste buds change. For some swallowing issues are an issue too. Dental and periodontal issues as well. It’s hard to get old.

Good luck tomorrow. I hope they are able to help keep your mom comfortable.

Hugs!

Berries, cantaloupe and watermelon are good too.

keep giving her the things she likes.
Don't focus solely on drinking.
Ice cream, sherbet, pudding, custards, fruit, puree real fruit rather than going with juice, she will get more fiber from the pureed fruit and it would be less sweet than most juices. Soup is another great way to get fluids in. Oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice.
If she does think it is too sweet for her then dilute with a bit of water.
Does she drink tea?, coffee?
Focus on what the color of her urine is.
If it is very dark then she needs to have more fluids, the lighter in color it is the more hydrated she is.
Depending on her level of activity she may not need as much fluids as you think she would.
This is a great question to pose to Hospice as well, they may have some great suggestions.

I wonder if it might be worth checking that her mouth is okay - sensitive teeth, cavities, ulcers, sore gums could all make sugary or very hot/cold things uncomfortable. So would thrush, but I think you'd have noticed that.

What about tea, does she like any sort of tea? It is a mild diuretic, but very mild and it still counts towards your fluid intake.

Cucumber sticks? Or does she like any salad vegetables that she could crunch on as snacks, such as peppers and tomatoes? You'd have to make sure that her swallow reflex is fine, mind.

I think I might call Hospice back and see if they can come pronto. When we called about my LO, a rep was there that day and she was set up the next day. They seem to know a lot about how to handle things like this. I'm so sorry for you. That must be so stressful.

1.   She may have no sense of taste b/c of meds.  Is she by any chance taking Amiodarone?

2.   Does she have any choking or swallowing difficulty, and if so, has a speech pathologist done a swallowing study to determine if she's aspirating?

3.    Since she'll eat soups, make more soups.   And focus on foods that aren't sweet, since she's definitely taking a stand against that.   Be aware that canned fruits are artificially sweetened, but it may be that sugar levels in other foods are offensive.  

4.  You might try reviewing a diabetic diet to see what foods might be candidates for her tastes.

This often happens in the late stages. How far are you willing to go to keep your mother living beyond what is a normal life span? You have offered her everything that you can think of.
As a nurse I can tell you that there is honestly no way to force hydration on her other than putting in a gastrostomy tube surgically, which she would more than likely pull out. Moreover, fluids are not always a friend. While you don't want dehydration, the forcing of fluids onto an elder can lead to choking and fluids entering the lung, causing pneumonia, and too much fluid cannot be processed by the failing heart, lungs, kidneys of an elder. Congestive Heart Failure, swelling of ankles, legs and abdomen can result from a weakened right heart and fluid in lungs with left heart failure.
Your Mother is now 95. Is it not OK to let her be the arbiter of how much fluid or food she takes?
Have you considered palliative care, hospice, or spoken to anyone about end of life decisions? Have you gotten any help with any therapy of any kind (should you want to do this work on grief and loss, a licensed social worker skilled in life change issues is likely even better than a psychologist.
As I said, you have clearly tried everything I think anyone could, to no avail. It may be time to explore, consider, approach what work needs to be done to face the end of a life, the loss and grief.
I am so sorry, and I hope you will find some peace in this. Your Mom is so lucky to have a clearly caring and loving daughter with her now. Enjoy the time you have left with your dear Mom, sharing things that will make her happy, peaceful, comfortable and stress free rather than forcing upon her things that make the end more torturous for her.