As we age, our senses can become less sharp and affect how we experience our surroundings. The rate of sensory decline can be slowed significantly, however. Here are our suggestions for maintaining sensory perception, organized and presented sense by sense.
Age-Related Eyesight Changes
Beginning in your 40s, the natural flexibility of the lenses in your eyes may change and become more rigid, making it more difficult to see up close. This is called presbyopia. Various health issues may also affect your eyesight, and many older adults experience some form of eye issues, ranging from floaters to dry eyes to cataracts.
Tips to Protect Your Eyesight From Age-Related Degeneration
- Avoid eye strain:
- Perform tasks in proper lighting.
- Limit the time you spend looking at anything for an extended period, including screens. For example, if you are reading, take a break occasionally and look off to the distance to give your eyes a break, or just sit quietly and close your eyes for a few minutes.
- Protect your eyes with sunglasses when outdoors, as you may be more sensitive to bright lights and glare than before.
- Wear your prescription glasses or contacts.
- Get proper nutrition:
- Eyes have nutritional needs, too. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E may promote eye health. Eating citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables that are high in lutein, nuts, and fatty fish will help keep your eyes healthy.
- Avoid smoking.
- Monitor your general health.
- Manage conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes - these can be detrimental to eye health.
- Have your eyes checked once a year or with any significant change in vision.
Care for Your Glasses
- Use an eyeglass necklace to lessen the chance of misplacing them.
- Clean the lenses regularly with a soft cloth to prevent scratching.
- If you live in assisted living or other communal senior living environment, consider having your name etched into the arm of the glasses.
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Age-Related Hearing Changes
Approximately one in three people between 65 and 74 experience hearing loss. As you get older, the percentage increases to almost 50 percent. That's due to presbycusis – the gradual loss of hearing as one ages.
Aside from normal aging, there are several reasons why we lose hearing as we age.
Causes of Hearing Loss
- Presbycusis – the gradual loss of hearing as one ages
- Overexposure to noise for long periods of time
- Viral or bacterial infection
- Heart condition, stroke, head injury, or tumor
- Medication side effects
How to Protect Your Ears
- Follow up with a medical professional with any sign of hearing loss or pain.
- Eat well - a healthy nutritional intake is important for your hearing. B vitamins and potassium are among the most important nutrients for hearing health.
- Limit exposure to loud noise; once the small hair cells in your ears are destroyed, they cannot be replaced. Try out different ear plugs until you find a comfortable set, and then carry them with you when you attend social and group events.
A variety of assistive hearing devices are available, including hearing aids that are positioned inside or behind the ear. In the event of hearing loss, consider hearing devices and follow these tips:
- If the concern of losing the hearing device is a deterrent, consider insurance or ask your professional about a minimally visible tether for the device.
- If you live in assisted living or long-term care, consider putting your initials on the hearing aids.
- Inform others of your hearing loss and ask them to face you, to speak clearly, and to use expressions and gestures when they engage you in conversation.
- Minimize background noise.
- Look for the hearing loop icon in public places and connect to the loop with your assistive device.
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Why Do Taste and Smell Diminish With Age?
Taste and smell are highly interrelated, so what affects one will likely also affect the other. Your senses of taste and smell can lessen with age as the taste buds and nerves in the nose degenerate. As these changes occur with your sense organs, your appetite can also wane.
In addition, one of the following might be a factor in diminished senses:
- Nasal sinus conditions
- Allergies
- Poor dental hygiene
- Medication side effects
- Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s
Ways for Older Adults to Retain Their Sense of Taste and Smell
- Engage in olfactory training to strengthen your sense of smell by sniffing concentrated essential oils two to three times daily.
- Try different flavors to keep your senses engaged. Use spices and acids, like lemon juice, to infuse flavor and rely less on added sodium.
- Avoid smoking, which can dull the senses of taste and smell.
- Brush your teeth and use mouthwash more frequently to clean tastebuds and limit the negative effect of bacteria.
- Limit alcohol intake with meals. Instead, aim to drink more water, taking small sips throughout the day to avoid feeling overly full.
- Regularly change air filters to prevent allergens from accumulating in the home.
- Check with your doctor to see if your medications may be causing changes in your sense of taste and/or smell.
How the Sense of Touch Changes With Age
As we age, changes in our skin and nervous system may decrease the sensitivity of our sense of touch. Changes in the skin can occur due to:
- Poor nutrition
- Circulatory issues
- Skin and nerve damage
- Brain disorders
- Medication side effects
- Smoking
- Sun damage
A reduced sense of touch can also interfere with walking and balance because of declining proprioceptive sensation, which is the brain's ability to sense the body's positioning in space. Some older adults also have more trouble perceiving discomfort or pain, which could lead to undetected injuries, frostbite, or burns.
Ways to Protect Your Sense of Touch
- Get proper nutrition and stay hydrated.
- Take care of your skin by using gentle soaps and lotions and wearing gloves if using harsh cleaners.
- Wear sunscreen when spending time outdoors, limit your time outside from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when UV rays are the highest, and protect yourself with hats or light, long-sleeved shirts.
- Set your hot-water heater to no more than 120°F (49°C) to avoid burns.
- Get moving - exercise helps improve circulation and enhances your spatial and bodily awareness.
- Check the thermometer and weather to see how to dress; don’t rely on your own sense of feeling hot or cold.
Why Should I Take Care of My Senses?
Changes in our sense organs can influence balance, pain threshold, the ability to realize temperature changes, and the sense of motion and pressure. This can lead to an increase in falls or injuries and a decrease in quality of life. It’s important to adapt and attend to the changes in our bodies.
So take care of your entire body — it makes sense!
Get more health, wellness, and lifestyle tips from The Bristal’s blog.
This blog was originally published in 2019. It was updated in November 2024.
