What Kinds of Changes Could Your Senior Be Seeing Now?

It’s no secret that your senior’s body changes as she grows older, but what types of changes could she be experiencing?

Trouble with Senses She’s Always Trusted

Your senior may have always been able to rely on her hearing and her vision, which makes it extra frustrating when those senses begin to change and worsen. But it’s just as disturbing to realize that her sense of smell or even taste can start to disappear, too. Your senior may find it difficult to cope with those senses leaving her.

Skin Difficulties

Wrinkles are definitely something that comes with age, but your senior might not have been prepared for things like thinner skin that is more fragile. She may be bruising more easily or finding that her skin is much dryer than she’s used to it being. All of these changes can be uncomfortable for her, both physically and emotionally.

Changes in Her Bones and Joints

Your senior’s bones and joints also change over time. Bones may lose density, especially if your elderly family member is prone to osteoporosis. These changes can do things like cause her to lose height, but more importantly they can make her bones much more fragile. This is a huge problem if she’s having difficulties with mobility.

Mobility Issues

Being able to move around well and easily is something else your senior might have taken for granted in the past. She may also become so unnerved by some of the changes she’s experiencing with mobility that she starts to move less often. This becomes a vicious cycle, damaging her mobility even further.

Oral Changes and Difficulties

Your elderly family member’s gums, teeth, and the interior of her mouth aren’t immune to all these changes, either. Teeth can become weaker with age, especially if your senior has taken some medications for a long time. Dry mouth is another problem, because the mouth is meant to be a moist area and dryness creates infections and even tooth loss.

Fluctuations in Hormones

Both men and women experience changes in the hormones that their bodies produce. These hormonal fluctuations impact every aspect of your senior’s body and how it functions. This can contribute to greater issues with maintaining a healthy weight and managing things like blood sugar levels.

There are so many more changes, too. Anything that is particularly troubling should be reported to her doctor so your senior can get a definitive answer about what to do. If your elderly family member needs extra help, home care providers have a great deal of experience with these types of changes in seniors.