Most senior citizens cannot taste, see, feel, smell, or hear as well today as they did during their young ages, that is, while they were in their twenties and thirties. The main issue, in this case, might be the reason for these changes. In response, the normal aging process causes degradation of the sensory system, which normally begins around the age of fifty-five. Caregivers and families realize that changes have occurred when the elderly person starts using the volume button on the television, bifocals, hearing devices, or requesting more seasoning to make food taste delicious. This means that the senses have become less sharp, thus making it harder for a person to clearly understand the surroundings. Degradation of senses can negatively affect an individual’s life; for example, the person might have challenges communicating and enjoying activities because the senses get information from the surroundings (Youmasu, 2017). This information can be sensed through smell, taste, sound, light, or touch, which is converted into nerve signals that are moved to the brain, where they are turned into meaningful sensations. This shows how the sensory system is related to aging, and therefore this paper will describe the reasons why knowing the sensory system is more vital to understanding physical aging than having knowledge of the urinary system.
All bodily systems are impacted by aging, but the urinary system may experience the most alterations. Reduced bladder capacity and bladder emptying, loss of sphincter muscle tone, and a decreased capability to postpone voiding are a few of the physical modifications to urinary tract function that come with aging. These are some of the causes of urine incontinence, which affects up to a third of older men and more than half of older women, which is so prevalent among the elderly (Rachael Hannah, 2022). Kidney aging is accompanied by a decline in organ size, a reduction in renal blood flow, and poorer salt retention. Age-related declines in GFR and functional nephron numbers are also seen. The following are some of the facts on the urinary system, particularly for the elderly:
- The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases with age
- Kidney decreases in size by the age of 80
- The sphincter muscles become loose with age
- Bladder capacity declines with age, contributing to urine retention after voiding.
- A person is required to urinate 4-7 times a day.
While each of the senses has a role in maintaining health and well-being, vision plays the most vital role. Significant vision loss may threaten the capacity to live independently at home and in the community, lowering the quality of life. Therefore, understanding how aging affects the eye, recognizing the most common eye conditions, and learning coping mechanisms for vision loss is essential for anyone providing care for seniors. Vision is the outcome of how the eye and brain perceive light. Light enters through the transparent surface of the eye and continues through the pupil (Youmasu, 2017). The pupil enlarges or contracts to change how much light can enter the eye. The lens is where light ends up after passing through the pupil. The retina, which receives light energy from the lens focused on it, transforms it into a nerve signal that is transmitted to the brain by the optic nerve and processed there.
The eye structures are likely to change with aging. For example, the transparent part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil becomes less sensitive, which makes it hard to realize an eye injury. Once a person hits sixty, the pupil may decrease, thus making it react slowly to bright light and darkness. Also, the eye lens becomes less flexible, yellowed, and cloudy, which leads to cataract development. Additionally, aging is associated with a gradual decline in the sharpness of your vision, such as having difficulties focusing the eye on close-up objects. Lastly, the person may be unable to tolerate glare. For instance, moving about inside a bright area can be challenging due to the reflection of the glossy floor because the person might have the challenge adjusting from light to darkness (Youmasu, 2017). Driving at night might be challenging if there are glare, brightness, or darkness issues.
In order to address these issues with the vision system, it is vital to maintain a balanced diet. Minerals and vitamins are particularly helpful in enhancing vision. For instance, vitamin A, which is found in vegetables, eggs, milk, and whole grains, is vital for good vision in dimly lit areas. Also, vitamin C in vegetables and fruits supports healthy eyes. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects the eye from aging.
This knowledge of the visual sensory system is more vital than knowing more about the urinary system for the following reasons: First, this knowledge will enable people to maintain a good vision system, thus minimizing their chances of experiencing vision issues with aging. Secondly, people depend on eye contact on a daily basis compared to the urinary systems (Slade et al., 2020). On the other hand, it is commonly known that a person should urinate at least four times a day, making this information less vital than the visual sensory system.
Taste and smell make up the other sensory system. Smell and taste are connected senses. Almost all tastes and smells are connected. The nasal lining’s uppermost nerve terminals are where the sense of smell begins to develop. Smell and taste have an impact on both the enjoyment and safety of food. A satisfying meal or a calming aroma may improve social interaction and general well-being (Slade et al., 2020). A person can spot hazards such as rotten food, gases, and smoke with his or her taste and smell senses. As the person ages, the five common tastes usually become less acute beyond age 60. Also, as you get older, the mouth produces less saliva, which makes the mouth become dry, thus affecting the sense of taste.
This information carries more weight than information relating to the urinary system when it comes to matters concerning aging for the following reasons: First because the elderly have a poor sense of smell, they are more likely to consume contaminated food. Therefore, having this knowledge will enable them to take an unexpired meal. Secondly, it will enable the elderly to know the appropriate measures they would take in order to enhance their sensory perception of a smell. In most instances, it is known that the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases with age, and therefore it is expected that elderly people are likely to have urinary system dysfunction. Since this is common, it makes it less important than the information relating to aging, smell, and taste, which is not common; therefore, people, especially the elderly, need to know.
As we age, our capacity to hear decreases. In the 20s and 30s, hearing loss frequently starts early and advances gradually. Most people do not become aware of hearing loss until they reach sixty or older and start having trouble hearing high-frequency sounds. The two main jobs of the ears are to hear and to keep one’s equilibrium. Once sound waves have crossed the eardrum and reached the inner ear, hearing occurs. Following their transformation into nerve signals in the inner ear, the auditory nerve transports the nerve impulses generated by vibrations to the brain. Equality (balancing) is regulated in the inner ear. Fluid and microscopic hair in the inner ear act as stimuli for the auditory nerve. This allows the brain to maintain its equilibrium. Internal ear parts change and experience some functional loss as they age. Noises become less audible to you. Also, whether you sit, stand, or walk, balance problems can arise.
Presbycusis, often known as age-related hearing loss, impacts both ears. There may be a deterioration in hearing, especially in high-frequency hearing. When there is background noise, the older person may find it difficult to discern between various noises or to hear a conversation. One way to deal with hearing loss is to have hearing aids fitted. Tinnitus is a persistent, abnormal ear disturbance that elderly people frequently experience. Wax accumulation, ear-harming drugs, or mild hearing loss can all cause tinnitus.
Some of the main reasons that make this sensory information more vital than urinary systems’ information are the following: First, hearing is one of the key things people depend on daily. Therefore, lacking this knowledge could likely subject an individual to the risk of developing hearing problems. Secondly, having this information would enable elderly people to implement proactive measures to prevent them from being diagnosed with hearing issues. On the other hand, it is well known that the sphincter muscles become loose with age, thus declining bladder capacities. In response to this issue, the person needs to urinate frequently to keep the bladder as minimal urine as possible.
An individual becomes aware of pressure, warmth, discomfort, bodily posture, and vibration through the sense of touch. Nerve terminals in muscles, joints, skin, tendons, and internal organs pick up on these feelings. The brain receives information from certain receptors regarding the location and health of internal organs (Medlineplus, 2023). Even though you might not be aware of it, this knowledge aids in seeing changes. The kind and intensity of touch sensations are interpreted by your brain. Also, it classifies the sensation as neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant.
As we age, our senses may weaken or change. These alterations may be caused by decreased blood flow to the brain, spine, or nerve endings. Nerve signals are transmitted by the spinal cord and are analyzed by the brain. Health conditions like a dietary deficit can also cause changes in sensation. In addition to the aforementioned, sensation changes can be brought on by brain surgery, disorders, confusion, disorientation, nerve damage from accidents, or chronic (long-term) diseases like diabetes (Medlineplus, 2023). Depending on the reason, altered sensations have different symptoms. Detecting the variation between cold and cool and warm and hot can be hard with diminished temperature sensitivity. As a result, frostbite, hypothermia, and burn injuries may become more likely.
Injuries, such as pressure ulcers, are more likely when one has a decreased ability to feel vibration, touch, and pressure. A person may become less sensitive to pain after age sixty, or they may still experience and recognize pain but not be bothered by it. As an illustration, if an individual is hurt, and he or she does not feel pain, the person could not be aware of the extent of the harm (Medlineplus, 2023). Also, due to the inability to realize how the body is positioned on the floor, the person may experience difficulty walking. Furthermore, this would increase the chances of a falling condition frequently experienced by the elderly.
Having this sensory information is more vital than having urinary systems information for the following reason. Senses enable a person to determine unpleasant feelings or dangers, thus ensuring their safety. In relation to the urinary system information, having kidney information is less important when it comes to matters concerning the safety of the elderly.
In conclusion, the sensory system is one of the crucial organs in the body, and therefore, it is essential to have knowledge of all the sensory organs because it will enable us to understand our physical aging. In most instances, sensory organs are likely to be impacted by age, so having their information will enable us to understand more about aging issues.
Reference
Medlineplus, (2023). Aging changes in the senses, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004013.htm
Medlineplus, (2023). Aging changes in the kidneys and bladder, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004010.htm#:~:text=Aging%20increases%20the%20risk%20of,other%20urinary%20tract%20infections%20(UTIs)
Rachael Hannah, (2022). Aging and Urinary System Homeostasis, https://ua.pressbooks.pub/animalphysiology/chapter/aging-and-urinary-system-homeostasis/
Slade, K., Plack, C. J., & Nuttall, H. E. (2020). The effects of age-related hearing loss on the brain and cognitive function. Trends in Neurosciences, 43(10), 810-821.
Youmasu J. Siewe, (2017). Understanding the Effects of Aging on the Sensory System, https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/understanding-the-effects-of-aging-on-the-sensory-system.html
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