Heatwave and the Elderly: the Hydration Guide for the Family

Your parents or grandparents live alone and it's 35°C: the heatwave kills every summer, and those over 75 are the first victims. Here's the caregiver's guide — why they don't feel thirsty, and how to get them to drink.

• 🚨 Why they are in danger : with age, the feeling of thirst FATES (the brain alerts less and less), the body stores less water, and certain medications (diuretics, laxatives) worsen losses — an elderly person can become seriously dehydrated WITHOUT feeling thirsty
• 📞 The family reflex : call twice/day during a heatwave (morning + evening), and ask THE specific question: “How many drinks have you had since this morning?” » — not “are you okay?” » (the answer will always be yes)
• 💧 The goal: 8 glasses/day minimum, in small, distributed quantities — the challenge is that plain water “no longer works” for many seniors. The solution: give TASTE without sugar: very diluted and fresh INTI (not iced), lemon water, cold broths
• 🔴 Beware of sugary drinks : sodas and juices (8-12g/100ml) worsen blood sugar levels often already monitored at this age (diabetes) — the sugar-free taste is doubly relevant among seniors
• 🏠 Housing : shutters closed during the day, ventilation at night, the coolest room identified, damp glove on the back of the neck, and mister — air conditioning from the supermarket or library as a last resort

The heatwave family plan: 2 calls/day with the question of drunk glasses, 8 glasses/day minimum with sugar-free flavor (very diluted INTI, fresh not iced), cooled accommodation. ⚠️ Unusual confusion, drowsiness, fever, dry tongue, skin fold that remains marked, very dark or absent urine = serious dehydration: call the doctor or 112 WITHOUT waiting — in the elderly, this changes within a few hours.

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