Sensory Loss In Older Adults - Taste, Smell & Touch - Behavioral
Approaches For Caregivers
As we age, our sensory systems gradually lose their sharpness.
Because our brain requires a
minimal amount of input to remain alert and functioning, sensory loss for...
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Sensory Loss In Older Adults - Taste, Smell & Touch - Behavioral
Approaches For Caregivers
As we age, our sensory systems gradually lose their sharpness.
Because our brain requires a
minimal amount of input to remain alert and functioning, sensory loss for older adults puts them at risk
for sensory deprivation.
Severe sensory impairments, such as in vision or hearing, may result in
behavior similar to dementia and psychosis, such as increased disorientation and confusion.
Added
restrictions, such as confinement to bed or a Geri-chair, increases this risk.
With nothing to show the
passage of time, or changes in the environment, the sensory deprived person may resort to repetitive
problem behaviors (calling out, chanting, rhythmic pounding/rocking) as an attempt to reduce the
sense of deprivation and to create internal stimulation/sensations.
This article is the third in a series of three articles that discuss the prominent sensory changes that
accompany aging, and considers the nec
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