Why do elderly people refuse to drink sufficient fluid?

I look after a lady with dementia but getting her to drink fluids is very hard, so we bought Jellydrops which are 95% her daily fluid intake

I understand you're frustrated, but I agree with@Destiny123 - patients I've worked with who have late stage kidney failure are often fluid restricted. That doesn't mean @Destiny123 thinks they know better than the team supporting your fil, nor does it mean you haven't been told to ensure he has 3 litres a day.

Hopefully you're able to try some of the ideas you've picked up and fil will up his fluid intake.

I’m elderly and have been told to drink more water because of heart problems. One of my friends advised me to buy an ioniser and drink ionised water. I can offer no logical explanation but have found it easier to drink ionised water - I don’t feel as bloated as I do when I drink tap water.

I don't know how you've been so calm with all these idiots who can't be bothered to read the thread or think they know better than his doctors. You're a better woman than me.

You get used to it. I drink 4L a day with tea and coffee on top.

I probably go 8-10 times a day from waking till bed. I drink this much to avoid constipation and because I take laxatives. I do have an electrolyte tablet in one of the pints too.

That said I am able to down my water, a pint or two pints in one go. I'm not constantly sipping, which is probably the challenge that the OP has with her father. My parents would never down a a pint of water, never mind two.

I know many old people who don't drink enough, the excuse is that they fear being caught short with no toilets nearby.

To be honest, as a Dr, he has kidney failure doesn't make any sense, the vast majority of patients at the more severe end of kidney failure are actually put on daily fluid restrictions as the kidneys struggle to get rid of water and it accumulates. Most with kidney failure are fluid restricted to 750ml-1l / day intake

3L is crazy. If I drank 3 litres of water every day I’d never get anything done. I’d be going to the toilet every 10 minutes.

My mum is not keen on plain water, but finds herb teas more palatable. She makes a litre of camomile or lemon & ginger (one tea bag is enough to make it all taste) and drinks it hot or cold depending on how long it lasts.

{mention:stayathomer}@stayathomer Apols this isn't for you I messed up doing a quote.

You mentioned he likes, but isn't allowed, whisky. That's also now available in alcohol-free versions. https://www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/food-drink/wine-spirits/best-non-alcoholic-whisky-b1135423.html

Not as much liquid content per glass as an alcohol-free beer, but it's one more option.

I've not read the whole thread, so these have perhaps already been suggested, but have you tried Jelly Drops? I've tried to link, but can't but I'm sure you'll find them if you Google. They're sweets which are 95% and have vitamins and electrolytes, designed for the elderly.

I get through 2 litres a day - 3 takes quite a lot of effort and concentration I find. I have a stoma, had my bladder removed because of cancer and keep a close eye on the colour of my wee. I hope I can think about it clearly as I get older!
I don't find 2 litres a problem, got into the habit when I was breastfeeding. DH is supposed to drink the same since he had kidney stones.
However MIL was in the habit of never drinking a lot, and when she had to go into a home she got numerous UTIs as a consequence. We used to take her fruit, like strawberries, which she loved and was easy to eat.
Could you ply him with beer, maybe? Probably the alcohol will do him less harm than the dehydration.

Because it's HIS father! And it also might be better received man to man.

I don't believe numerous medical professionals have told him he must drink 3L of water a day. We get lots of water from the food we eat he almost certainly does not need to be drinking 3L a day unless he's extremely active or it's very hot weather.
OP are you yourself a bit of a water obsessive thus telling him he must drink more? NHS recommendations are 6-8 glasses a day which is more like 2 litres not 3.
If he isn't a fan of water you are better off trying to tempt him with lovely juicy fresh fruit like melon or strawberries. The water in these is just as valid as the water in the tap.

Are you medically trained? If you aren’t then I doubt that you were changing his catheter. Emptying his bag maybe…but NOT changing his catheter.

Have they really told him to drink 3000mla day?
Try to encourage him to eat foods with high fluid content…fruit, veg, yoghurt, ice lollies, herbal teas, soups etc
3000ml a day is A LOT for anyone!

Pretty sure 9 sweets equals 50ml water.

Try offering more liquid containing foods…soup, cucumber, lettuce, cereal with (lots of) milk, thin stews, citrus fruits, watermelon, tinned fruit salad in fruit juice, ice cream, lollies. Tinned tomatoes Offer drinks in small glasses ..less daunting. If water doesn’t float his boat, serve OJ with breakfast, apple juice with other meals

Try him with orange squash? Or Ribena? Ginger beer? It may be he doesn’t like water. The carrying round of water battles is only in the last 30 years!