The Senses

As part of the ageing process, the ability of your senses decreases. This can lead to physical issues. 

Issues that can be caused by a decline in the senses for adults 65+

Smell:

If your smell declines, you won't be able to taste food and drinks as efficiently. This may impact on their social life because if they go shopping or asked to smell a perfume etc. then they won't be able to, and will be reliant on their friends and family which may impact them emotionally because they may feel less independent and have a poor self-esteem.

Taste

If your taste declines, you won't enjoy food and drinks as much as you used to. This may impact on your social life because if you go out for a meal with friends or family and they are all talking about how nice the food tastes you may feel uncomfortable and different for not being able to actually enjoy the food that you are eating. This may cause a low self-esteem and for an individual to lose their confidence as they may not want to go out to eat anymore.

Hearing

If your hearing declines, then you won't be able to hear efficiently. This may impact on your social life because if you go out with friends or family in a public place e.g. the cinema or if you have conversations with them at hom or over the phone you may miss out on information- this will then impact on the individual emotionally because if they can't hear properly, they may isolate themselves so they aren't put in a situation when they need to hear what is being said.

Touch

If your touch declines, then you won't be able to feel things the way that you used to be able to. This could impact on your social life because if you go out with friends or family and need to pick something up or feel an item of clthing etc. you may not be able to describe it. You may not even realise that you are touching something. This could impact on an individual emotionally because if they cannot touch they may feel differemt which could impact on their self-esteem. Their independence may also be affected because they may then be reliant on other individuals.

Sight

If your sight declines, then you won't be able to see things as clearly or in focus. This may impact on your social life because if you go out with friends or family and can't see something properly you may not want to go out, it may also impact the individual emotionally because if they have to wear glasses they may feel self-conscious and will therefore have a low self-image and self-esteem which wil impact their confidence. It will also affect an individual physically because they will be less mobile and will be reliant on other individuals. 

Your senses depend on nervous tissue to function. Nervous tissue allows you to receive stimuli and produce information. 

• As the ageing process progresses, brain functions begin to decline. 
  
• Blood flow to the brain will decrease, causing a loss of brain cells. 
• Nerve impulses become slower. 
• Self-repair to cells (including nerve cells) become slower. 
• This will cause decreased sensation, slower relfexes and a tendency to be clumsy.