Water, Water – Good for the Heart

Delco’s Mercy LIFE program encourages participants to drink to their health and hearts

While your senior loved ones enjoy what is left of the hot summer weather and warm fall days, it is more important than ever to ensure they are hydrated. Even as we look toward the cool autumn, remember that dehydration can strike seniors all throughout the year– so don’t lose sight of the potential hazards fluid loss can cause even when the temperature drops.

At Mercy LIFE, skilled nurses and physicians ensure participants drink plenty of fluids throughout the day – taking the worry off busy caregivers who may not be able to monitor their loved ones’ hydration during the workweek.

Here's how it works:
If body temperature rises, perspiration evaporates to cool it down. A senior may not even notice how much fluid he or she is losing, but depending on a person’s level of activity, fluid loss through perspiration can rise to one quart of fluid per hour. For frail seniors, perceptions can be compromised so quickly that the brain’s thirst receptors do not even have time to signal the need to replace lost fluids.

Humid weather also makes a difference, and with peak hurricane season here, it’s time to prepare for damp days. If the atmosphere is saturated, sweat and perspiration have nowhere to go and remain on the skin. This lack of evaporation prevents sweat from doing its job – to carry heat away from the body. For elderly loved ones already coping with health issues, the part of the brain that regulates body temperature can malfunction easily and the body can no longer cool itself properly.

For Delco seniors coping with a history of heart disease, dehydration can become dangerous – fast. In addition to not retaining water as easily, seniors with heart conditions are often on medicines to remove excess water, making them at a higher risk for dehydration.  Since perspiration originates from the bloodstream, excessive loss of fluid can easily throw off a senior’s electrolyte balance. The heart senses the imbalance and the heart rate can rapidly increase as a result to compensate for inadequate blood flow. If the heart rate rises above certain levels, people with heart disease may be at special risk for dangerous arrhythmias.

To avoid these complications, make sure your senior loved ones drink at least six to eight ounces of fluid after every 15 minutes of activity, as well as two full glasses two hours before any physical activity. Take frequent breaks and if the weather is humid or warm, stay indoors!
If you are a caregiver in Delaware County looking for a solution to keep a family member healthy and engaged, Mercy LIFE is the answer. The program’s interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, recreation therapists and pharmacists see to every need of each Mercy LIFE participant and keep them safe throughout the year.

More About Mercy LIFE:
Mercy LIFE is a member of the Mercy Health System. Mercy Health System is the largest Catholic healthcare system serving the DelawareValley and is comprised of more than 6,000 caring, highly skilled employees focused on creating an outstanding patient-care experience.

Since May 2013, Mercy LIFE has been available to seniors living in Delaware County, including Darby, Chester, Yeadon, Prospect Park, Wallingford, Woodlyn, Lansdowne, Sharon Hill, Garnet Valley, and Ridley Park (specific zip codes include 19013, 19014, 19015, 19018, 19022, 19023, 19032, 19033, 19036, 19050, 19060, 19061, 19074, 19076, 19078, 19081, 19079, and 19094). 

To schedule a tour of one of three Mercy LIFE Day Centers, call us at 215-339-4747 or visit www.mercylife.org. To view a virtual tour of the Mercy LIFE Day Centers, please visit www.mercylife.org/virtualtour.