Prepare for the physical changes of getting older
Help the aging cope early; know the facts
At Gramercy Court, a skilled nursing facility in Sacramento, CA, staff understand the aging process.
"We are used to being around seniors, so we don’t have expectations from the past. When they come to Gramercy, we accept them the way they are," says Janet Hamil, director of marketing.
Some of the signs of aging that staff are taught include the following:
• Vision
After the age of 60, a person’s ability to see drops dramatically. Changes in the lens make it more difficult to see close objects clearly, see well in poor lighting conditions, and distinguish some colors.
• Hearing
Individuals older than the age of 65 are more likely to need a hearing aid than younger people. They often have difficulty hearing certain pitches or screening out background noise.
• Taste and smell
As people age a reduction in nerve sensitivity impairs their ability to taste and smell. Therefore, food is often no longer as flavorful.
• Motor Performance
Motor coordination and speed decline with age. Also, bone mass declines from 5% to 10% each decade after age 40.
• Cardiovascular
After the age of 60, the heart pumps about 1% less blood per year. Consequently, elderly people’s hearts do not respond to stress or heavy exercise as well as a young person’s heart.
Help the aging cope early; know the facts. At Gramercy Court, a skilled nursing facility in Sacramento, CA, staff understand the aging process.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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