Creative ways to improve hot-weather hydration

A cool drink is a welcome reprieve for anyone in the summer, but in older adults, it’s crucial. Dementia and other age-related changes can diminish thirst perception. Certain medications can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. Further, chronic illnesses like heart disease, kidney problems and diabetes can make people more susceptible to heat-related complications. This makes dehydration a common concern in senior living communities. But senior living facilities are getting more purposeful about encouraging hydration – and their ideas can be applied to consumers beyond the senior demographic too.
Brookdale Senior Living, for example, integrates hydration into daily routines by providing conveniently located hydration stations and choices of flavor packets and fruit infusions to help make plain water more appealing. Schlegel Villages in Canada introduced the "Wet Your Whistle with Water" (W3) program, an intervention co-designed by staff, residents, and implementation specialists to promote water intake in older adults. Environmental modifications are also playing a role in improving hydration in these settings. Studies have shown that using brightly colored cups can increase fluid consumption by up to 84 percent among residents with dementia, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Other modifications can make hydration more of a natural draw – and not only in senior living facilities. You can offer more iced herbal teas and fruit-flavored lemonades for guests who crave something more than plain water. Serve light (or even cold) soup options. Provide hydrating snacks and desserts like fruit salsas, skewers, smoothies, yogurt parfaits, or popsicles/ices. Or simply swap in more water-rich produce on your menu – think watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers and berries. You can also make hydration more of a centerpiece to your summer experience: Mocktails are growing in appeal (and are a reliable check booster – in metro areas, some mocktail options can run close to $30). Try a mocktail-themed happy hour highlighting summer tastes with sophisticated flavors woven in.