Do you feel what I feel?
Understanding Sensory Changes in the Aging
Population

Sue Brooks MSN, RN, AOCNS®
Clinical Nurse Specialist – ACE Unit and Patient
Education
Amanda Himes MSN, RN, BC
Clinical Nurse Manager- ACE Unit

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Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital
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21 Bed Inpatient Medical-Surgical Unit
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Goal: Maintain the functional status of the older adult during acute hospitalization by focusing on their unique needs
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Interdisciplinary Team Approach: Nurse Manager,
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Educator, Pharmacist,
Dietician, Physicians, Physical/Occupational therapy,
Pastoral care, Nursing and Nursing Support

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Vision
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Hearing
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Touch
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Smell
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Taste

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Barriers during communication and care
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Misinformation
Confusion
Wrong assumptions
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Reduced independence
Reduced ability to provide self care
Isolation

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Thicker lens
Loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye
Pupil takes longer to dilate and contract
Reduced pupil size
Visual field becomes smaller
Eyelids start to lag
Decreased upward gaze
Problems with glare
Decrease in color vision

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Inability to adjust to glare and change in lighting conditions
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Decrease in eyes ability to change the shape of the lens to focus on near objects
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Medication labels
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Safety risk for driving and maneuvering in the environment
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Increased safety risk in changing environmental light

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Loss of sensory hair cells and nerve cells
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Decreased movement of the bones in ears
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Increased dryness of ear wax
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Increase in number of coarse hair in the ears
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Eardrum thickens
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Loss of high frequency hearing
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Decreased ability to process sounds after age 50

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Decreases in sound moving across the ear canal
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Decreased ability to hear sounds such as p,w,f,sh and women’s and children’s voices
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More time needed to process and respond to sounds
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Decreased hearing

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Decreased quality of communication
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Social isolation
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Low self-esteem

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“I went to a table to join four friends. When one of them asked me a question which I could not understand, the other repeated it for me. However, I was still unable to lip read it. They paused while one of them wrote it down. I was aware that the easy going conversation they had been enjoying before my arrival now ended.
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Within a few minutes two of them left and after a brief pause the others explained they had pressing engagements. I sat alone.”

Responds inappropriately
Caregiver avoids
Is labeled confused
Becomes angry
Becomes frustrated
Is labeled uncooperative

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Most changes in taste are due to:
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Condition of the mouth
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Medications
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Decreased number of taste buds
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Dry mouth
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Decreased sense of smell
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Disease
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Use of tobacco

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Decreased sensitivity to flavors
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Swallowing ability
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Difficulty with cooking
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Decreased appetite
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Eating spoiled food

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Decrease in nerve fibers associated with smell
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Decreased ability to identify odors

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Impacts ability to taste
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Inability to identify spoiled food
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Inability to identify smoke or gas leaks
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Limits enjoyment in eating
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Limits pleasures of everyday life
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Smell of spring rain, Christmas tree, flowers, coffee brewing

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Decreased sensitivity to:
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Temperature
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Pressure
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Touch
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Decreased balance
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Decreased sense of position of legs
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Change in pain sensation

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Increased risk for:
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Falls
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Burns
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Lacerations
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Calluses
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Pressure ulcers

Hands on interactive experience

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What are you experiencing?
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Glaucoma
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How would this impact your day to day life?

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What are you experiencing?
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Macular Degeneration
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How would this impact your day to day life?

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What are you experiencing?
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Hemianopsia
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How would this impact your day to day life?

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What are you experiencing?
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Cataracts
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How would this impact your day to day life?

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What are you experiencing?
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Yellowing of the lens


Capezuti, E., Zwicker, D., Mezey, M., & Fulmer, T.
(Ed’s.). (2008). Evidence-based geriatric nursing protocols for best practice (3 rd ed.). New York, NY:
Springer Publishing Company, LLC.