I care for a 90 year old man who thinks we are being mean when we keep telling him to drink so he doesn't dehydrate. How much does he need?

Here's a good publication on dehydration from the University of Nevada's Extension program: http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/hn/other/fs9930.pdf. If they take they link out, I'll copy and paste what it says.

That link above was excellent. I might add, my mom doesn't care for plain water and has a hard time eating fruit ... but she loves fruit smoothies! I make them with plenty of ice!

My husband has Alzheimers. He doesn't really like water. But he loves Cranberry juice, Cran Apple. I dilute it with water, like Orangeblossom suggested. A nurse in the E.R. suggested it. He takes a glass with 3/4 cup of liquid in it...and he drinks 3 to 5 a day. I also try to get a cup of International House Coffe into him too. Fruit, ice cream, jello....he likes all that too. He likes broth and little noodles, so I buy those chicken noodle packets....few cups of water and boil it up. Not easy, but I do the best I can for him, trying to give him variety.

How about small cut up chunks of watermelon? High water content and nutritionally valuable. I would be hesitant on the the packaged noodle soups and broth packets - very high sodium content, which would contribute to inflammation and swelling.

There are many water flavorings available. My mom, too, doesn't want to drink nearly as much as she should. Mostly because of being afraid she'll have to go to the bathroom. But, when I add Mio to her water she is much more likely to drink it. Ask you grocer where they have it on the shelf.

Our mother does the same at times - she does Not want to drink much for fear of running to the bathroom. Her urine can be strong at times. So far, she's only had one episode of dehydration and urinary tract infection (UTI) about 3 years ago. It is and can be a struggle - she needs continuous encouragement. Besides water, we give her a variety of cranberry juice, lemonade, etc... On the weekends (especially in the summer), a fruit smoothie is a treat for her. She loves them. The article and suggestions are great... I will try home made smoothies.

Concerned... I worried about the same thing about 2 years ago and asked Moms Doctor that specific question. She was never a water drinker or anything drinker and it was so tough. He told me 24 oz a day is just fine! I give her 4 oz of coffee with her miralax each morning
I then feed her her breakfast with a warm 10 oz decaf tea sipping with a straw throughtout the meal. I also sometimes have her drink a 3 oz puree'd container of pears/or any fruit (that I make up and freeze ahead) You can feed it as an icee , microwaved to drink, or make into popscicles. She has a large breafast and no lunch. Then for supper she has it with 4 oz prune juice. Been doing it 2 years or more with no problems. I give less if she has pudding or ice creams also. Hope this helps.
ps she never drinks water

All good tips above. I would also suggest you might try diluting fruit drinks 50/50 with water. It's half the sugar, still tastes good, and you are getting the desired water into him. Beyond that, I would run all his Rx's through the online drug interaction checker system. There may be some meds that used together, cause the urine to turn dark. It may be as simple as revising the dosage schedule (after consulting with the pharmacist and doctor).

As a nurse caring for her retired military husband with dementia I can tell you this is when you have to become a CO (as in Commanding Officer). Dark urine is a sign of not drinking enough water, sodas will only make him more dehydrated due to the sugars, phosphoric acid (which will leach his bones even more), and alcohol will also dehydrate since the liver has to detoxify first before allowing anything else to take place (like eating). So, I suggest you fill a quart container of water, fill a small glass for him, and bring it to him every hour. He has to urinate until his urine is straw color, then you will know how much water it will take to keep him from dehydration. You can also check his skin turgor (if you pinch (lightly) the top of his hand, and the pinch stays there while you count to 10 seconds, he is dehydrated. You don't mention if he has any dementia, but just keep reassuring him you are doing your best to keep him healthy! Thanks for caring for him...

I started to put only 4 oz of water and a ice into the glasses I set beside Mom. We had not realized that the full glasses of water were so heavy and she just wasn't picking them up to drink. We get 2xs the water in here now, in little small bits at a time. Don't change the glass size! Important to keep things as much the same as possible. Also, some people might think a little glass would be for children so, large or normal glass, little bit of water. Also, there is a clear ensure that mom seems to like.