As much as you can get her to. If she's not diabetic lots of folks recommend cranberry juice. My Mom has been through this numerous times. If she stays hydrated she does much better.
Wait, if she has congestive heart failure or swollen legs or a tendency to retain fluids, please ask the MD how much to give her. Windyridge is right, cranberry juice is the best thing for a UTI, but you have to make sure it will leave the body, and not congest the patient.
Average urine output is 1500 ml per day. That's about a quart and a half. So you need to know if she is peeing out 1500 ml a day or if she tends to retain fluid. Weigh her daily to check this. When mom was on fluid restrictions, she was limited to one liter intake a day and LOW sodium foods. Her habit of going out to lunch and smothering her salad in tasty dressings was a big problem. If weight pops up more than 2 lbs in a day, that's not good.
If she's otherwise healthy, she should be able to drink whatever she wants to drink. Water is always best though. A UTI suggests that she hasn't been drinking enough water though. I have a 32oz jug that I fill up about 3 times a day with ice and water. Since I am diabetic and take medications, I want my kidneys clean and free so I drink quite a lot. Your body usually tells you whether you need water or not. Always ask her doctor what he thinks she should be drinking and get her a jug to keep with her full of cold or ice water. Cranberry juice is great for a UTI and you can buy AZO pills over the counter at the drug store in case there is some pain with the UTI. It's a great med but be careful with it because it stains clothing and won't come out! It stops most of the pain usually the first time you take it but I'm hoping she is also taking an antibiotic to get rid of the UTI. Juice alone will not get rid of the UTI. Is your mother in a NH or are you caring for her at home?
If she does not like cranberry juice you can get cranberry pills. My mom takes them every day as she gets uti often. If you do get cranberry juice get the real thing not cranberry juice mix. A small glass a day should help. Pills are less expensive I've found. And as others have said if not other restrictions on fluids because of heart or swelling then try getting her to drink several glasses a day. Check with doc.
Really important is to watch the salt intake... You don't need to add salt to almost anything, because food already has a lot of salt in it! This will help so you don"t get water retention... All the best!... And Happy Thanksgiving to my caregiver counterparts 🤓
My mom didn't really care for water. I was happy if she drank a cup of tea ir coffee at breakfast, 1/2 to 3/4 cup of juicy juice, ensure with lunch and whatever she wanted for dinner, juice or soda. My mom really didn't drink much so i was happy with whatever i could get in her. No sodium, heart or kidney conditions. No uti's. I was fortunate. I gave up and stopped nagging about drinking, it was a battle i chose not to fight. Good luck
See All Answers