Water before tea

The sense of thirst weakens with age. An older adult can be meaningfully dehydrated and feel nothing at all — which is why confusion, dizziness on standing, constipation and sudden tiredness so often turn out to be nothing more than not enough water.

What helps

• A glass of water first thing, before the morning chai.
• A filled bottle or jug kept in sight — out of sight really does mean out of mind.
• Curd, buttermilk, dal, soups and fruit all count toward the day.
• In summer or during a fever, more than usual.

An easy daily check

Urine should be pale. Dark yellow, or going many hours without passing any, means it is time to drink more.

One caution: anyone told by a doctor to limit fluids — usually for heart or kidney reasons — should follow that instruction instead. Ask what the daily limit actually is, and keep to it.