Follow
Share

I've tried putting a flavoring in her water. I enlisted her for ideas as to what we can do here to get her to drink water, thinking that having her part of the process would help. I tried giving her one glass of water after breakfast and one after lunch. I told her that dehydration was an agonizing way to die. (That she responded to once.) She was in great pain from having a difficult bowel movement and promised to start drinking water.
Still.......she refuses to drink water. Could this be her way of saying she wants to die?
I don't know what to do anymore....
cadams

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
My mom just went to an incontinence clinic. They stressed to her to drink more non-caffeinated, non-carbonated beverages to help her bladder health. Even though her primary care physician stressed she needed more liquids to help her memory and mental health, and she was interested in doing that, she didn't want to have to go to the bathroom more often. She probably wasn't even drinking 20 ounces of liquid per day.

After the incontinence clinic explained how she is working against her health by not drinking, it helped get the point home. So, now, two different doctors and the incontinence clinic have insisted on her adding liquids and it's sinking in. Repetition from professionals has helped outweigh her fear or additional bathroom visits.

I have a two-liter water bottle. I have measured and marked it at every 10 ounces so she can see how much she really drinks, every day. Every day for awhile, at the end of the day, I showed her how little she'd consumed and part of her problem was that she thought she was drinking more than she really was. That also helped it hit home with her. Her memory is bad, too, so reminding her every day for a few weeks was required.

Now, almost all beverages come out of that bottle, but when she drinks milk or something else not made from water in that bottle, we pour out a glass worth from her water bottle. That helps her see how little she was drinking. Every night when she goes to bed, I fill it back to the 65 ounce mark and she sometimes gets up during the night and drinks some from it.

She does also sip, which the clinic stressed is the right way to do it, not gulping.

Also, I find if I make her a cup of tea that it's more interesting to her than a glass of water, but I make the simplest herbal teas (plain rooibos, plain mint) or decaffeinated teas. Sometimes, I'll make her decaffeinated coffee from her jug. A little variety helps.

In the summer, I make a jug of sweetened herbal tea and she'll have about a glass of that per day, once again, we throw out a glass of water from her jug.

I know it seems like we waste a lot of water, but it's not as much as it sounds like. Most days we don't throw any of it away. And it's really the easiest most visual way for her to understand and keep track of her consumption.
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

I couldn't get my mother to drink water. She said the tap water tasted bad. So I bought the small bottles of bottled water. Now she drinks so much I can barely keep it in stock. Sometimes I find half-filled bottles scattered around. I just recombine them and put it back in the refrigerator. And, of course, I recycle the bottles. (I've also been known to refill them with tap water and refrigerate it. She never knew the difference. :)
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Would she like something else better than water? Milk? Lemonade? Orange juice? Ginger-ale? Beer? V-8 juice? Tomato juice? How about hydrating foods, like soup, watermelon, grapes, tomatoes, celery?

My husband didn't like drinking water but he liked V-8 with Tabasco in it, and grapefruit juice, and milkshakes, and tea, and beer or wine once a day, and milk on his cereal ... he pretty much had something that he liked available to drink all day.

My mother has never been a water drinker. Her nursing home offers several beverage choices at each meal, and snack cart comes around offering small cans of pop or juice twice a day. They also serve melon and soup and canned and fresh fruit and lots of opportunity for the residents to keep hydrated.

Except in hot weather, I drink about 12 ounces of water a day -- the amount it takes to swallow my pills. But I am seldom without a glass or cup of something to drink, and I eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I don't think I am in any danger of dehydration. Your mother may be at greater risk, but if she resists water, work harder on other ways to get the liquid in.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Mom is in a nh. They make sure that she has a small pitcher of ice water all the time. She sips. All day long. But never a whole glass. Just little sips all day. Apparently your sense of thirst is diminished as you age, so she needs gentle reminders. Is she incontinent? I think sometimes reluctance to drink more has to do with the inability to get to the toilet on time.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Hi Cadams,
Does your Mother drink anything and it's just water that she has problems with? Or she doesn't drink at all and you have to watch her get any fluids at all?
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Maggie....you have got to be kidding. Scared me to death, but I'm glad you shared. My mom does have kidney issues which we (the dr. and I ) monitor. This caregiving business gets so scary with the not knowing and the responsibility. God be with us all. Thanks again for sharing. cadams
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

I have the same problem with my dad. I found that the tiny water bottles work the best. For some reason in his mind he's not drinking very much with those tiny bottles so that really works. Also I cut up watermelon and put it in throwaway bowls in the refrigerator so he can grab one and sit down and eat it. He also likes the flavor drops in the water so we have various kinds of those. You just have to be tricky and outsmart them good luck!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Same thing going on with my mom...doesn't drink much at all and we have water bottles all over with 2 sips out of them! What she does like, however, are the neat little bottles of water flavorings, Mio or other/store brand. You just put a little squirt in there for however much flavor and sweetness you want in your water, and there's a huge variety of flavors, so maybe you can find one of those she likes. Good luck!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Mum used to drink alot of water but lately she wont drink much but eventually after trying alot of things she is now ok with tonic water? its a bitter sparkling water and she likes it so whatever works!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Does she drink any type of clear liquid? Maybe you could thin them out with water. Also, if she'll drink thicker things (like smoothies), add ice to them for some water. You can even thicken water with Thick-It powder and maybe flavor it a bit so it doesnt have the consistency of water.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

See All Answers
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter