Sensory Age-Related Changes
Vision
• can't see well at night or in dim light or glare
• can't distinguish colors blue & green and poor depth perception
Hearing
• can’t hear phone, doorbell or other people
Touch
• can’t feel hot or cold, injury or pain
Temperature
• can’t feel room temperature or regulate own body temp
Smell
• can’t smell smoke, gas or other fumes, chemicals or spoiled food
Taste
• can’t taste if food is spoiled or if they are eating something they shouldn't
• loss of taste can lead to loss of appetite.
As well as changes in the numbers of older adults, many older adults will experience normal age-related changes in their body that limit their overall functioning. There will also be age-related chronic and acute illnesses, which require assistance from a caregiver. These changes create a level of risk that increases the likelihood the person may be abused, abandoned, exploited, neglected and/or subject to self-neglect.
The changes listed here are some of the typical changes that may occur for aging adults. As vision begins to change, some will have difficulty dealing with glare, seeing small print without some adjustment, such as changing the distance of a book from their eyes, and/or unable to distinguish colors like blue and green. People may also lose their ability to hear higher and lower sound ranges and are sometimes unable to filter background noise. Sense of touch may also change so that some will not be able to tell hot or cold. In addition, an older adult’s internal body temperature may change, making him or her susceptible to heat or cold. Senses of smell and taste go hand in hand; older adults may lose their sense of smell altogether, or cannot smell smoke or gas that is present in the air. They also may not be able to tell if a food has spoiled.