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Senior Citizen Discount |
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At Best Water Solutions we have a great appreciation for Seniors and to their invaluable
contribution to our country. We recognize that you have special needs and would like to
honor you by giving you a 7% discount on all new installations.
Please let us know you are a Senior when you contact us on our webiste or on the phone:
Gainesville (352) 372-2707; Ocala (352) 369-1707; Toll-Free (800) 516-8962
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Senior Water Needs
Dehydration in seniors is easy to prevent. You should drink 5-8 glasses of pure water daily and
include fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet.
The total water weight for an adult between the ages of 61 and 74 is on average 43% for a woman and 51% for a man.
To maintain good health it is important to drink good quality water even when you are not
thirsty or you can become dehydrated.
Dehydration occurs when a person loses more water than they take in. The body needs an adequate amount
of fluid to function properly; for example, to regulate body temperature through sweating, to maintain
blood pressure, and to eliminate bodily waste.
Research shows that 48 % of seniors admitted to hospitals from Emergency Departments had laboratory
values indicative of dehydration. Seniors suffering from dehydration are a frequent cause of hospitalization
(one of the ten most frequent admitting diagnoses for Medicare hospitalizations, according to the Health Care
Financing Administration). Dehydration can be life-threatening if severe enough.
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Causes for Senior Dehydration:
. a person's sense of thirst becomes less acute as they age
. high blood pressure and anti-depressant medications are diuretic
. some medicines may cause patients to sweat more
. frail seniors have a harder time getting up to get a drink when they're thirsty, or they rely on caregivers who can't sense that they need fluids
. as we age our bodies lose kidney function and are less able to conserve fluid (this is progressive from around the age of 50, but becomes more acute and noticeable over the age of 70).
. Illness, especially those that cause:
- vomiting and/or diarrhea
- excessive urination such as diabetes and hypercalcemia
. Excessive sweating
. Blood loss
. Fever
Even mild dehydration can affect a person's health increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Age related
changes make older adults more vulnerable especially if they already have cardiac or renal problems. Severe
dehydration puts a greater strain on the heart. Think of a pump trying to pump with less fluid.
If severe enough, dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bedsores in bed-ridden patients,
or even death. In general, a human can survive for only about four days without any fluids.
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Signs of Dehydration:
. Confusion
. Muscle weakness
. Constipation
. Problems with walking or falling
. Sunken eyes
. Dizziness and headackes
. Irritability
. Fever
. Pneumonia
. Tachycardia
. Weight loss
. Dry skin
. Poor skin elasticity (pull up the skin on the back of the hand for a few seconds; if it does not return to normal within a few seconds, the person is dehydrated)
. Dry or sticky mouth and tongue
. Inability to sweat or produce tears
. Less urine output
. Increased heart rate
. Low blood pressure (hypotension)
. Blood Pressure Drops when changing from lying to standing
. Increased infections
Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. To maintain
electrolyte levels, you could have broth or soups (made with high quality water) which contain sodium and fruit
juices, soft fruits, or vegetables, which contain potassium. Sports drinks, like Gatorade, can help restore
electrolytes.
As with most illnesses, prevention is the key. Making sure you stay hydrated now is much easier than being treated
for dehydration later.
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