Retirement is a time when you expect to be enjoying your golden years and looking forward to appreciating time without obligation or commitment. Golf can be played on a weekday instead of waiting for a Saturday, you can stay up late for a show or enjoy a night out, or wake up early for breakfast with the grandkids. Unfortunately, sometimes with age comes failing senses like loss of vision and hearing or impaired taste which might make the experiences you’ve been looking forward to a little less pleasurable. 

Wesley Enhanced Living communities are here to assist seniors with aging in-place in an environment designed to make sensory loss easier to cope with. Our residents have peace of mind knowing that our staff strives to maximize their independence at all times. 

How Aging Affects Your Senses

Maybe you have noticed some changes to your sight, hearing, taste, and smell. It happens to all of us. Here are the changes you may experience as a senior:

  1. Sight: Your vision will become less sharp as you age. Depending on your age and a host of other factors, you may be at risk to develop cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.
  2. Hearing: You will probably experience issues with hearing high-frequency sounds. Your ability to hear can also affect your overall sense of balance.
  3. Taste and Smell: Reduced saliva in your mouth may lead to a diminished ability to taste foods properly. Your smell detection capability may also diminish with age. Declining taste and smell can lead to little desire to eat food as it is less appetizing.   

Tips to Protect Your Senses

You cannot stop time in its tracks, but there are a few ways you can improve your senses and combat the effects of aging: 

  • Keep track of your symptoms related to declining sensory capabilities and share them with your medical team. Work with doctors and specialists you trust.
  • Eat nutrient-dense foods that support your senses. For example, blueberries can help weakening eyesight.  
  • Stop smoking and other habits that have been linked to the loss of your senses.
  • Protect your eyes with sunglasses when outside in the sun.
  • Turn down the volume of your TV or music, and take a break from loud noises every 15 minutes.
  • Train your nose to smell properly, by sniffing out four to six distinct odors like cloves, lemon, and eucalyptus each day.
  • Exercise regularly to keep your heart strong and potentially improve sight from the additional blood flow to your eyes.
  • Protect your head and sinuses to avoid loss of smell. Get treatment for any injuries or infections as soon as possible, to minimize the damage to your senses.

Taste the Coffee, Smell the Roses, Hear the Music, See Life in All its Colors!

Learn to keep your senses intact with our simple suggestions and know you can still enjoy life to its fullest. Moving to a Wesley Enhanced Living community is an excellent step in the right direction. We provide many different living options, like independent living, personal care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. Give us a call today to find out which option may work best for you. 

Wesley Enhanced Living provides high-quality senior retirement communities for you or your loved ones.  Contact one of our Philadelphia area locations and find out why our seniors love where they live. Our staff is happy to discuss your elder’s needs or your own and inform you of our range of services. Virtual tours are now available. Call us today for more information.