"This is a year-round problem but becomes much more of a threat
in the summer," said Dr. Larry Wright with the Schmieding
Center. As seniors age, drinking water when they get thirsty
just isn't enough to stay healthy. "By age 70 thirst is
unreliable to tell us how much to drink," Dr. Wright said. "By
the time a 70-year-old man gets thirsty he is already
dehydrated." Everyone should drink a quart-and-half to two
quarts of liquids a day. Water and juice are fine, but alcohol
and drinks with caffeine actually help dehydrate people. For
seniors, whose sense of thirst is unreliable, making drinking
liquids part of a routine ensures they won't become ill. If
people are outside during warm weather, they should be drinking
even more. "For every hour and-a-half of outdoor activity when
the temp is 80 degrees or higher, the person should drink
another additional quart of acceptable liquids," Dr. Wright
said. If a person starts feeling sluggish mentally or
physically, or starts getting dizzy, they could be suffering fro