If you’re over the age of 60 or you have a weakened immune system, you’ll know the importance of treating your body with respect and taking the effort to reduce your exposure to toxins where possible.
In this guide, we’ve discussed using water filter pitchers for seniors and people with weakened immune systems, including their benefits, setbacks, and considerations you should make.
📌 Key Takeaways:
- Water filter pitchers are good for seniors and people with weakened immune systems because they remove up to hundreds of harmful contaminants that could be dangerous to these two parties.
- The best water filter pitchers are also affordable and easy to use.
- However, filtered water jugs don’t purify water, and they’re more expensive to use than nothing.
Table of Contents
- 🤔 What Is A Water Filter Pitcher?
- 🔎 Are Water Filter Pitchers A Good Solution For Seniors And People With Weakened Immune Systems?
- ✅ Benefits Of Water Filter Pitchers For Seniors And People With Weakened Immune Systems
- ⛔️ Potential Setbacks Of Water Filter Pitchers For Seniors And People With Weakened Immune Systems
- 📑 Final Word
🤔 What Is A Water Filter Pitcher?
Before we discuss whether or not water filter pitchers are suitable for seniors and those with weakened immune systems, we need to know what they are and how they work.
A water filter pitcher is a pitcher jug that has a built-in filter. The pitcher filters batches of water, so when you pour a glass from the spout, your water is clean and free from common drinking water contaminants.
Some of the impurities reduced or removed by a water filter pitcher are:
- Chlorine
- Lead
- Fluoride
- PFAS
- Microplastics
- Arsenic
- Pesticides
- Nitrate & nitrite
- Other heavy metals
Pitcher filers have an average upfront price range of $40-$80 and cost less than $100 per year to maintain.
🔎 Are Water Filter Pitchers A Good Solution For Seniors And People With Weakened Immune Systems?
Water filter pitchers are a great solution for seniors and immunocompromised people.
Both of these parties are at a greater risk of experiencing health effects as a result of drinking tap water that’s contaminated with chemicals, heavy metals, and microorganisms. Using a water filter pitcher is an affordable way to reduce or remove these contaminants from at-home drinking water supplies.
Does that mean water filter pitchers are essential? No. Unless your doctor has given you strict instructions to only drink filtered or purified water, it’s up to you whether or not you decide to use a water filter pitcher – regardless of your age and your immune function.
Tap water is technically safe to drink because water utilities have to comply with legal standards set by the EPA, which means they reduce contaminants down to “safe” trace levels before water is distributed to our homes.
Whether or not you filter your water comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer to use a water filter pitcher because they place a lot of importance on their health and don’t like the idea of drinking even legally “safe” levels of certain contaminants.
If you’re concerned about your tap water and considering using a water filter pitcher, it may be helpful to speak to your doctor for their advice.
✅ Benefits Of Water Filter Pitchers For Seniors And People With Weakened Immune Systems
Let’s look at some of the biggest benefits of using a water pitcher to filter your water if you’re over 60 or immunocompromised:
Removes Harmful Contaminants
The obvious benefit of water filter pitchers is that they greatly reduce or remove a variety of harmful contaminants that could be particularly dangerous to older people or people with immune system problems.
Immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of waterborne infections, and may also be more at risk of the immunological health effects of contaminants like arsenic, nitrate, and PFAS.
The same can be said for seniors. The older you get, the more important it is to make sure the things you’re putting into your body don’t contain toxins that could make you sick or exacerbate a health issue you already have.
Some of the best water filter pitchers can remove hundreds of contaminants from tap water, making it much cleaner, safer, and healthier to drink.
Retains Healthy Minerals
Although water filter pitchers are capable of removing virtually all harmful contaminants from your drinking water, most of these filters retain healthy alkaline minerals, like calcium and magnesium.
Humans of all ages and health statuses need these minerals for normal body functions, but they’re especially important to older people, who are more prone to nutritional deficiencies, and people with decreased immunity, who particularly need to focus on getting plenty of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy.
Some water filter pitchers even add small amounts of healthy minerals into water, increasing its alkalinity and healthy mineral content.
Easy To Assemble & Use
Health benefits aside, water filter pitchers are also easy to assemble and use, so they’re ideal for older people who may have mobility restrictions that affect their ability to do any heavy-duty DIY.
To assemble a water filter pitcher, you simply click the filter cartridge into the filter slot, place the top reservoir into the pitcher, and put the lid on top. When you’re ready to start filtering, just fill the pitcher with water from your faucet.
Using a water filter pitcher isn’t overly complex or physically demanding, either – simply pour water from the spout into a glass. Most pitchers are made from lightweight plastic materials, but you can buy smaller pitchers or avoid filling the pitcher completely if you’re unable to lift heavy water jugs.
Plus, if getting out and about isn’t as easy as it used to be, a water filter pitcher gives you the convenience of filtered water from home. No need to make a trip to the shops to buy bottled water when you can filter your own tap water in your kitchen.
Encourages Hydration
Staying hydrated is essential, especially for older people, since dehydration may lead to dizziness, fainting, and even hospitalization – with potentially serious outcomes for people who are already frail.
Keeping hydrated also helps support the immune system’s communication and biochemical pathways, so immunocompromised people can also benefit from drinking their eight glasses of water a day.
Filtering your tap water in a water pitcher should encourage you to stay hydrated by improving your water’s taste, making you more inclined to reach for your glass when you’re thirsty.
As we mentioned earlier, some water filter pitchers even increase water’s pH, improving its taste by adding healthy minerals.
Saves Money On Bottled Water
Many older people or people with immune system problems buy bottled water because it’s often cleaner and purer than tap water.
However, bottled water is expensive, costing hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars per year.
Using a water filter pitcher is a much more affordable alternative. Not only can you stop spending money on bottled water to drink at home, but the typical annual cost of a water filter pitcher is less than $100, so you can stay safe and healthy for much less.
Plus, you’ll be able to reduce your plastic consumption massively because you’ll no longer be going through tens of single-use plastic bottles per week.
⛔️ Potential Setbacks Of Water Filter Pitchers For Seniors And People With Weakened Immune Systems
Now we know the benefits of water filter pitchers for seniors and people with weakened immune systems, let’s take a look at their setbacks.
Don’t Purify Water
The best water filter pitchers are capable of removing hundreds of contaminants – but they don’t purify your drinking water.
If you have a compromised or suppressed immune system, your doctor might have recommended that you drink distilled or reverse osmosis water, since this water is 100% pure – so it’s guaranteed to be free from all potentially harmful impurities.
Water filter pitchers don’t provide comprehensive enough treatment to remove all impurities, so your health may be at risk by drinking specific trace contaminants that aren’t filtered out.
Costlier Than Doing Nothing
Buying a water filter pitcher might only be a small commitment – but it’s still a commitment.
You’ll have to spend the money upfront on the pitcher, then spend around $70-$100 per year on filter changes.
There’s a bit of extra effort that goes into owning and using a water filter pitcher, too. You’ll need to keep the pitcher clean and make sure to replace the filters on time. Failing to do so could cause bacteria to accumulate in the filter media – the very thing you’re trying to avoid if you’re in your senior years or have a compromised immune system.
Not everyone wants the extra commitment involved in owning a water filter pitcher, even for the reassurance of clean, better-tasting drinking water.
📑 Final Word
Water filter pitchers are an ideal solution for seniors or people with weakened immune systems who want to be particularly careful about the quality of the water they consume.
Keep in mind that not all water filter pitchers are equal, and not all are worth your money! Do your research, and spend your money on a high-quality, highly-reviewed pitcher from a reputable manufacturer.
