Aging and How the Sense of Smell Changes

Over time, seniors experience changes with their senses. They might have more trouble hearing, for instance, or trouble seeing. This is a natural progression, but that doesn’t mean that seniors don’t experience significant impacts on their daily lives. They may find they no longer enjoy food, aren’t sure whether food has gone bad, or are unsafe in other ways. Personal care at home can offer them valuable assistance with these changes.

Lots of Things Change with Age
Many of the changes seniors experience are obvious to them and to the people around them. Seniors may notice that they can’t see as well, that they’re more sensitive to temperatures, or that they find food more bland than ever before. But other changes are more subtle, like experiencing changes with their senses of smell. These changes can make seniors feel uncomfortable and feel as if their bodies are “betraying” them.
Why Is Sense of Smell Important?
The sense of smell is way more important than many people realize. Being able to smell accurately improves the ability to smell possible dangers, like gas leaks, smoke, or spoiled food. A good sense of smell also helps seniors enjoy the foods they’re eating. Smell is also closely tied to memories and emotional experiences, which is why using favorite and familiar smells is often a part of caring for seniors with dementia.
Phantom Smells
One phenomenon related to the sense of smell that seniors can be surprised to experience is phantom scents. This might be when seniors smell something that isn’t there at all or when they experience distorted versions of familiar scents. These phantom smells can be upsetting, especially when the smell is a bad smell or one that makes them worry something is wrong.
Hygiene Concerns
Diminished sense of smell can cause trouble for seniors in terms of hygiene, too. Seniors may not notice body odors or other smells that could indicate that they need to take care of something. That inability to notice when these smells are present can cause anxiety and discomfort, eventually impacting self-esteem and confidence.
Personal Care at Home Can Help
Personal care at home is there to assist seniors in a variety of ways. First, they help with hygiene tasks like regular bathing, dental care, and other grooming practices. There are other personal care tasks they can help with as well, including eating challenges and mobility issues. Home care providers can also assist with issues related to phantom smells, helping seniors to stay safe in their homes as they age in place. Personal caregivers can help seniors to identify smells that truly are important to pay attention to and when to ignore smells that aren’t actually there. Changes to their sense of smell can be upsetting for some aging adults. Personal care at home is a great way for families to make sure that seniors have the support they need when they’re experiencing challenges related to not only their senses of smell, but also other issues that affect their health and happiness.
If you or an aging loved one are considering personal care at home in Golden, CO please contact the caring staff at FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver today at (303) 953-9575. FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver provides exceptional home care for seniors in Denver, Littleton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Aurora and surrounding areas.