Our five human senses and how they change as we grow older

This is a helpful guide for what your care-receiver may be experiencing. In the event of an emergency, please contact emergency services immediately. (911 in the United States)

Vision

As we age, so do our eyes. Here are some changes that the person you care for might be experiencing:

  • Blurry vision (specifically at periphery)

  • Difficulty reading print

  • Difficulty seeing at night

  • Difficulty seeing color/contrast

  • Seeing floaters (small flecks that float around your vision)

  • Vision loss (specifically in the center of the visual field)

Put Into Perspective

Grab a pair of old sunglasses, then scratch the lenses and draw a small circle in the center with a permanent marker. This simulates some of the vision changes experienced by older adults.

Hearing

After a lifetime of listening, the older adult may experience these common changes with hearing:

  • Difficulty hearing when there is background noise

  • Lower decibels easier to hear than higher (deep voices are easier than higher pitches)

  • Sensitivity to sounds (may be high pitched sounds or loud noises and may cause pain)

  • Speech may sound mumbled/slurred

  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Put Into Perspective

Wear earbuds or headphones to muffle your hearing, simulating how aging ears perceive sound. Alternatively, use headphones that amplify the sound of your surroundings.

Taste

Watch out for increased sugar or salt intake as seniors' taste preferences shift. Here are some common taste changes they may encounter:

  • Decreased sensitivity to tastes

  • Decreased tolerance for “healthy” foods

  • Difficulty identifying flavors

  • Increased “blandness” in foods

  • Reduced sensations of taste

Tip

Increasing the temperature of foods or adding in different textures may make eating a pleasant experience without adding more salt/sugar!

Smell

The sense of smell is more important than some may imagine. Here are common changes of smell that older adults may experience:

  • Difficulty identifying certain smells

  • Difficulty differentiating wanted/unwanted smells

  • Reduced sensitivity to certain smells

Note

Changes in smelling can be risky. For instance, if something is burning and the older adult can't smell it, or they can't tell if food has gone bad. It might also cause feelings of embarrassment if they can't sense if they smell strongly of something unpleasant.

Touch

The older adult may feel the world a little differently. Here are common changes in touch:

  • Difficulty identifying textures

  • Difficulty identifying painful sensations

  • Increased/decreased sensitivity to temperature changes

  • Increased likelihood for skin injuries

  • Increased sensitivity to certain textures

  • Numbness or tingling sensations

Put into Perspective

Experiment with wearing gloves during daily activities to simulate the changes in touch experienced by older adults.