Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Drinking enough liquids is important for staying healthy, but long-term care residents with dementia often do not drink enough, and this causes other health issues like urinary tract infections, constipation, and confusion. One reason for low fluid intake may be that residents have difficulty swallowing and need thickened drinks, which may not taste good, have limited flavour options, and take longer to drink. A strategy is needed to help residents with dementia who drink thickened drinks stay hydrated and healthy. My research will 1) determine what helps and what prevents hydration of residents of long-term care with dementia who drink thickened liquids; 2) develop strategies to improve hydration of residents of long-term care with dementia who need thickened liquids alongside people with lived experience and a team of researchers; and 3) test the strategies with a group of long-term care residents who drink thickened liquids. I will interview long-term care staff and families of residents to learn what might help and what makes it hard for people with dementia to drink enough when they have been recommended thickened liquids. I will combine these ideas with other research our team has done on general strategies to improve hydration and develop a plan for residents of long-term care with dementia who drink thickened liquids. We will then trial the strategies to see if they improve hydration.