Becci Bookner

On this first day of Summer, I’m reminded of my Grandmother and Great Aunts. They loved this time of year because the garden was full of fresh vegetables, the trees were full of fruit, and the bushes full of berries. All of them lived with us at one point or another while I was growing up, so I witnessed their seasonal delight first-hand.

On the flip-side, those lovely ladies didn’t delight in the often oppressive heat. Back then, as many will remember, air conditioning was a luxury and not standard in the old homes of the U.S.

In an effort to keep everyone comfortable, it seemed as though we went through gallons of iced tea. When it came to eating, we could have been considered one of the original “raw food” families: Eating uncooked fruits and vegetables and avoiding the oven at all costs.

Little did I know then that we were doing exactly what my Grandma and Great Aunts, Edie and Cook, needed.

You see, elderly people get dehydrated quickly — much like young children — but for different reasons. Scientists have discovered that as our brains age, we loose some of the signals that tell when our bodies are becoming dehydrated. There are also a number of geriatric medications that can contribute to dehydration as well.

In the elderly, dehydration can cause many health issues that affect digestion, mental alertness, kidney function and more, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of dehydration and know what to look out for.

Here’s a thought: Celebrate this first day of Summer by checking in on elderly family members, neighbors, and friends. Make sure they have plenty of water-rich foods in their homes to eat, as well as other ways to keep cool. Offer to take care of strenuous, out-door tasks for them, or make arrangements for seasonal assistance.

After all it’s Summertime, which means the “livin’” should be easy…for people of every age!

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