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I take care of my dad who has dementia that causes anger. He has stage 3 kidney disease and should be drinking at least 6 glasses of water per day. He refuses water, and basically any fluids. This is a constant battle. I have had to call the paramedics out at least 3 times this month because he gets dehydrated. Flavored water does not help. He will not drink tea or soda. Please help.

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As a retired nutrition clinical staff member...when working a few years ago I encountered many elderly who did not want fluids..I would offer ice cream, jello, wet fruits like watermelon and grapes in addition to fluids ..Most foods are about 80% free fluids.. Try juices watered down..Grape juice was well accepted...all fluids count..Make milkshakes..home made ones work so much better than Ensure...float ice cream in root beer...hope this helps...
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Hi! I had this issue with both parents. Dad wouldn't drink until I purchased a cool new Yeti. Then it became a game - like a challenge to see if he could top the number of times he emptied it on a daily basis. Suddenly wasn't an issue but more of a routine. When he became to weak to hold the Yeti, we replaced it with a child' sippy cup that he could not spill or ding. Mom was a different story. She had dementia and not being her favorite, no matter what I did she would not drink. It wasn't that she resisted drinking - it was that she resisted me. So I fixed it. I bought a "special" water" bottle and told her it was a gift from her favorite son Teddy. Then I told him what I did. So when he called (because that's pretty much ALL the effort he made towards her care) he would ask her if she was using his gift. To please him, she would drain that thing 6 to 8 times a day. LOL. Watch out though. Teddy got credit for everything and I had him "fix" all of her problems. Now he drives a new pick up truck and has access to her bank account.
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Momsablessing Aug 2020
Teddy should know better but you'll get the pretty wings in Heaven. I hope he at least thanks you. If that worked that is best for her that's what is most important.
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Have you been given a list of fruits and vegetables that contain lots of water? You may get a lot more water into him by serving it as foods, if he has some appetite.

Watermelon, Jello with seedless berries, fruit ices and sherbets, vegetable soups made without added salt and Mrs. Dash as a seasoning, mango, cucumbers, stewed zucchini, fruit flavored teas. There are some new non-alcoholic beers that might work.

There are a lot more of these.

If he’s the slightest bit cantankerous he may be refusing just to annoy you. Don’t get mad, - GET SNEAKY.
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lauramay Aug 2020
Thanks for your helpful ideas. We used watermelon tonight and I will make soup for lunch. I am buying Popsicles too. Lots of great ideas were offered.
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Loss of renal function is painful and scary for both of you.

i understand the doctors are recommending his kidneys stay flushed, but because your Dad’s kidneys are not processing properly, he is instinctively rejecting the water and can’t help that it repulses him. If he seems difficult, remember that he feels absolutely terrible.

When I was in your situation, I felt very impatient, frustrated and hopeless.

Praise your dad every time he takes small sips. He may respond best to this positive interaction. Be very patient and calm.

Thr kidney problems (along with the dehydration, electrolytes, etc.) are compounding his confusion.
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NobodyGetsIt Aug 2020
Dear "ACaringDaughter,"

Great comment and you certainly are living up to your "screenname"!
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Grapes and cukes have lots of liquid in them. Icee pops and fruit pops too.
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My mom is the same way; but She will eat popsicles. I have to chop them up and she eats w a spoon. At least it is a bit of liquid.
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Lauramay, you have a tough one there. Homemade shakes are the way to go. Stick w what Dad can have. Kidney disease...normally, no tomatoes, broccoli, oatmeal, red meat, whole grains, watermelon. Strawberries, grapes, mangoes, apples(very good), cucumbers, celery, squash, beans, cherries, onions, garlic, lemons, pineapples are good. Gelatin, not so good. Ck out my profile. Get a really good blender. Find out what flavors he likes, coffee, mint, lemon, etc. Also, make a huge pot of white, not brown, rice and when cool, put in ziploc bags in freezer to pull for convenient breakfast, dinner, etc. Add broth, butter, onions, etc.
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NobodyGetsIt Aug 2020
Dear "dads1caregiver,"

You brought up a very good point about someone who has kidney disease shouldn't have certain foods like the ones you mentioned. Since I don't know much about kidney disease, I myself wouldn't have thought of that but, now I remember when my mom was hospitalized in April for severe dehydration and COVID, when they ran bloodwork they said her kidney function was at a stage 3. Thanks for the reminder and more ideas!
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Jello, popsicles, thicken fruit juice, lots of soups, decaf coffee and smoothies. Anything that has liquids in it can up his fluid intake. If it is a "thickness" issue, try thickeners that are used to help stroke patients. The consistency can be from honey to thickness of pudding.
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I find alkalized water at room temperature is the easiest to drink lots of. It also hydrates better, so less is more. Fresh squeezed lemon or lime is a great way to alkalize the water.

My 90 yr old friend has to be reminded to have some water, even when we are out and about in 115° weather. She worries about having to use the bathroom to frequently and doesn't feel thirsty, double whammy for staying hydrated. I just remind her frequently and that helps.
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My 96 yr old Dad has the same problem of not wanting to drink water but he also does not want to go to the Hospital so, I keep a water bottle beside him and every 30 min tell him Dr says to take a drink of water si he doesn't hVe to go to the Hospital.

Then, what ever fluids he does like give to him.. my Dad likes Milk so offer him a breakfast bar, ect with a little glass of milk every couple hours.

Also, serve more food with liquid like Soup.

Give him a liquid breakfast shake everyday.
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NobodyGetsIt Aug 2020
Dear "bevthegreat,"

I would use the same tactic with my mom telling her she would end up in the hospital again if she became severely dehydrated. For her she would forget but now that she's at a new facility in their memory care unit, they always have fluids next to her. Prior to COVID when she lived in an ALF, I would bring drinks but, couldn't make sure she had them in front of her even if I told her over the phone - she either would forget or just wouldn't do it.
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