1. NATIVE ELDER CAREGIVER CURRICULUM NECC: 1.2 SENSORY CHANGES Caring for Our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 1 Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2

2. Sensory Changes Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 2  Sensory Changes can come from:  “Normal” Changes in specific sense organs Eyes, nose, skin, ears, brain  Effects of illness & disease  Effects of medications

3. Sensory Changes  Important to “compensate” for the changes in sensory systems  Many strategies are useful & effective ! Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 3

4. Sensory Changes: Vision Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 4  Vision Changes  Cornea thicker and less curved Increase in astigmatism  Lens no longer clear, but cloudy Cataracts

5. Sensory Changes: Vision Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 5  Presbyopia  Loss of lens “accommodation”  Lens of eye will not automatically adjust anymore Hold newspaper at arm’s length  Some loss of “near” vision

6. Sensory Changes: Vision Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 6  Vision Changes  Pupils do not always react normally More difficulty with perception difficulty with adjusting to changes in light

7. Sensory Changes: Vision Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 7  “Common” Changes  Nearsighted Can’t see far away  Farsighted Can’t see close up  Astigmatism Can cause “blurry” vision

8. Sensory Changes: Vision Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 8  Decreased Dark Adaptation  Not able to see well in the dark  Require much more light to see than in earlier years

9. Sensory Changes: Vision Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 9  Vision: Disease or Illness  Diabetic retinopathy  Macular degeneration  Glaucoma  Changes resulting from stroke  Infections

10. Sensory Changes: Hearing  One-third of people over age 65 have hearing loss  “presbycusis” Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 10

11. Sensory Changes: Hearing  Difficulty “localizing” sounds  Hard to figure out where sounds are coming from  Hearing Loss is related to loss of nerve cells & changes in inner ear Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 11

12. Sensory Changes: Hearing  Difficulty especially with loss of hearing high frequency sounds  Interferes with hearing and understanding what people are saying  Especially hard to hear “sh”, “s”, “f”  Can really hurt communication ! Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 12

13. Sensory Changes: Smell & Taste  Sense of smell: “normal” decrease after age 60  Serious change in ability to detect smells after age 80  Can interfere with nutrition as part of taste Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 13

14. Sensory Changes: Smell & Taste  Can be a safety hazard if not able to detect toxic smells Smoke Food that has “gone bad” or spoiled Other fumes Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 14

15. Sensory Changes: Taste  Does not decrease as much as the sense of smell  Need more concentrated flavors  Decreased number of “taste buds”  Decreased saliva  Saliva contains amylase which helps with recognition of “sweet” tastes Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 15

16. Sensory Changes: Touch  Decreased or Increased sensitivity to touch & pressure  Anything that interferes with the nervous system can affect the sense of touch Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 16

17. Sensory Changes: Proprioception  Decreased “automatic” sense of position of the body and the parts of the body  Depends on “information” from the inner ear, along with information from the joints and ligaments Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 17

18. Sensory Changes: Proprioception  “Proprioception ” As with touch perception, anything that interferes with the nervous system can interfere with proprioception Very important in sense of balance !! Falls are a serious problem !!! Prevention of falls important!!! Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 18

19. Sensory Changes: Pain  Perception of pain can be either increased or decreased  Depends on many things  Must be assessed for each person  IMPORTANT to manage pain to prevent depression, inactivity, loss of independence in ADL’s Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 19

20. Sensory Changes Caring for our Elders: Sensory Changes 1.2 20

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