Aging is about change Of course we have all been changing, and aging, from the moment we were born—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. There are many myths about growing older. In these articles, we strive to debunk the misconceptions and speak candidly about the most common changes of our later years.
Age is fluid
Line up a group of people who are 65 and older and you will see remarkable variation. Have them stand in chronological order and you may be surprised that some individuals in the later years will appear to have more vigor than others in the younger years. This exercise is not about passing judgment. It’s simply to show that there is a distinction between “aging” (the chronological fact of living longer) and “decline.” While the functions of the physical body do decline over time, the rate of change is different for everyone.
It helps to begin with an understanding of the normal process of physical aging. And—especially for those who are not yet experiencing them—learning how those changes affect our lives on a daily basis and in the big picture.
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Normal aging: the five senses
The normal changes of aging and the necessary daily lifestyle adjustments that go with them are easiest to see by looking at the five senses. Vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell are how we experience our world. They greatly affect our understanding and often, our joy. Even normal changes to our senses create some risks and usually result in the need to do things differently in order to adapt.
Vision More than one-quarter (28 percent) of persons over age seventy have experienced at least some vision loss. The normal changes of aging have potentially serious effects:
Difficulty seeing up close. (Glasses or contacts can usually remedy this problem.)
Need for more light, because we don’t have the receptors we used to.
Reduced ability to judge distance. This can have serious consequences for driving, because we have trouble judging the speed of oncoming cars, making a left-hand turn, or entering the freeway.
Problems with glare. Adjusting to light and dark takes the eyes much longer than we are used to. This makes driving at night difficult and dangerous. As a result, we tend to stay home in the evenings and are unable to go out easily to nighttime events.
More than three-quarters of legally blind individuals are people over age sixty-five who lost their sight because of age-related diseases. The most common diseases include glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Hearing Nearly one-quarter of persons age sixty-five to seventy-four and half of those age seventy-five and older have a disabling hearing loss. It’s not only a matter of volume, but also being unable to hear words clearly. Loss of hearing has deep consequences.
Injury. Not hearing can lead to a greater chance of injury, particularly involving cars, when we may not hear one approaching. In addition, persons with even mild hearing loss are three times more likely to experience falls than are persons without. Scientists are unclear why. The fact that the inner ear plays such a large role in balance may be part of the reason.
Social isolation. Difficulty hearing tends to cause people to withdraw socially. We lose our relationships when we lose our hearing!
While technology aids are improving, they are expensive. Less-expensive versions tend to amplify all noises, which is not ideal. As a result, only 30 percent of older adults with hearing loss use hearing aids.
Other hearing impairments include tinnitus, an often-constant ringing, buzzing, or swishing noise in the ears.
Although the impact of hearing impairment is profound, it is frequently overlooked as a disability.
Touch The sense of touch involves not only the skin, but also our nerves and brain. As we age, our sensitivity to touch, temperature, pressure, vibration, and the position of our body changes. Reduced sensitivity can have serious outcomes:
Burns. We may not feel that something is too hot. It’s important to set the temperature of the water heater to no higher than 120° to avoid burns.
Hypothermia or frostbite. We can’t rely on our bodies to judge the temperature outside. Check an outdoor thermometer when it’s cold, and dress accordingly.
Infection. By not feeling pain as acutely, we may be unaware that a sore or infection is developing. It’s important to check the skin regularly for injuries, especially the feet.
Taste Eating is one of life’s pleasures. However, the taste buds lose their sensitivity with age, and the tongue has fewer of them. Following are some of the pitfalls:
Oversalting or oversweetening foods. As a result, older adults are often tempted to put more salt or sugar on their food than they did in their younger years. This can lead to problems for those on special diets.
Malnutrition. When food becomes less tasty, it can also become unappealing, leading to weight loss and poor nutrition.
Fortunately, taste is rarely lost completely, and texture—crunchy or chewy foods—can be emphasized for variety.
Smell The ability to perceive odors declines with age, especially after age seventy. While outwardly this might seem to have some benefits, there are definite disadvantages:
Reduced pleasure in eating. For those who relate smells to the joy of food, it can reduce the pleasure of eating.
Potential to get sick from spoiled foods. A weak “sniffer” can cause problems because it’s more difficult to tell if food has gone bad.
Greater likelihood of injury. It’s harder to smell smoke in the case of a fire. Or a gas leak. It’s important to be sure that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and are tested regularly.
There is no one explanation of aging. More than 300 theories exist to explain physical decline. Some relate to environmental factors (exposure to air pollution, or things that we do, like drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco). About 25 percent of aging can be attributed to cellular changes that are more genetic in nature.
On the cellular level, the simplest explanation is that aging occurs as components in our cells wear out over time. This process begins in our twenties.
The cells in our body are constantly being replaced. Over the years, those cells don’t reproduce as accurately or as quickly as they did before. Our cellular repair systems don’t cull out dead or misfiring cells as effectively. Bodily processes become less efficient. Healing takes longer. Everything slows down.
Whether it’s a blood cell, a bone cell, a nerve cell, a digestive cell, a muscle cell, etc., all cells and systems are affected. Our immune system becomes weaker, and we are unable to fight disease as effectively. Our digestive system doesn’t extract nutrients as well as it used to. You get the picture.
And this doesn’t count the cellular impact of our lifestyle choices or environmental exposures.
Such changes are not noticeable in younger people. But as the years accumulate, so do those little changes. The inefficiencies become more obvious. And they have consequences.
The changes in the five senses—smell, sight, hearing, taste, and touch—for instance, are part of the normal process of aging. The cellular errors of aging, however, can also open doorways for mutations (cancer), infections, or other chronic conditions.
We are living longer!
Only one-hundred years ago, the average person lived to their mid-fifties. Now the average life expectancy is in the late seventies. According to the Social Security Administration, if you’ve made it to sixty-five already, there’s a 54% chance you will see your ninetieth birthday if you are a nonsmoking healthy female (43% chance for nonsmoking healthy males). For smokers, those numbers are 35% for females and 23% for males.
Are we living well?
Although we are living longer lives, many of those years are spent managing multiple chronic conditions. Diabetes. High blood pressure. Congestive heart failure. COPD. Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It is these chronic conditions that can profoundly affect our daily experience of life.
And it’s our daily lived experience that creates our quality of life. The joy in our days. In this sense, “living well” is not about our material belongings, although financial worries do diminish quality of life. “Living well” tends to be our satisfaction or pleasure in our ability to do what we want. It’s our relationships, our autonomy for making decisions, and our feeling of purpose or meaning in life. Ultimately, “quality” can be defined only by each of us personally.
Living well—and therefore aging well—is a balance between quantity and quality of life. This means having enough health to do what gives us joy, and the time to engage in those pleasant, meaningful activities.
Lessons from centenarians (people who live to be one hundred)
While our lifespan is of course affected by genetics, it turns out that is only 20%–30% of the picture. A pioneering international study looked at cultural and lifestyle habits of five communities around the world—in the United States, Greece, Italy, Costa Rica, and Japan. These communities were special because they had low rates of chronic disease and an extremely high proportion of people who live well into their nineties and even one hundreds. Dubbed “blue zones,” the communities shared nine qualities across four domains:
Movement
Move naturally. Ideally, physical activity would be just a natural part of living. Rather than going to the gym, people in blue zones walk a lot. They garden, and participate in other physical activities over the course of their daily chores and interactions. Other research suggests at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity or 150 minutes of moderate activity per week will add to health and longevity.
Diet
Eating food in moderation. Rather than eating until full or stuffed, people in blue zones tend to “leave room” by stopping when they feel 80% sated, not 100%. Along similar lines, their smallest meal is in the late afternoon or early evening. They refrain from eating at night, essentially fasting until breakfast. Other studies demonstrate that eating slowly and chewing longer can reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness sooner.
“Plant slant.” Meat is eaten only five times a month or so. Instead, the vast majority of foods eaten in blue zone communities are from plant sources: Legumes (beans, peas, lentils), nuts, whole grains, and vegetables. These foods provide protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also provide unsaturated (good) fats. Together they promote heart health, a healthy gut, and reduced chance of metabolic syndrome (prediabetes).
Moderate wine consumption. With the exception of one community (which abstains completely), people in blue zones drink one, perhaps two glasses of wine per day. Other research suggests that red wine is associated with heart health and a longer life. This may be because of the antioxidants found in red grapes.
Social network
Strong social and intergenerational connections. Persons dedicated to a life partner benefit with three additional years of life expectancy. Having elders nearby who interact with children also seemed to be beneficial for all. We are social beings. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that feeling connected—that we belong and have meaningful relationships—is important to well-being.
Belonging to a faith-based community. Meeting weekly with others who share a spiritual focus seems to add four to fourteen years of life expectancy. One theory is that the sense of awe or transcendence—meaning beyond the self—is a contributing factor. Other research seems to indicate that the social connection is helpful. Also, that people involved in faith communities typically have lower rates of depression.
Healthy friends. Good habits are contagious. Ideally, those in your social network support the type of healthy living you believe in.
Approach to life
Rest and relaxation. People in blue zone communities allow themselves to sleep until they feel rested. They have active strategies for setting aside worries during some part of the day (for example, prayer, naps, a social hour). This is confirmed by other research, which suggests seven hours of sleep at night and a short daytime nap (thirty minutes or less) are beneficial for both the heart and the brain.
Purpose. Having a sense of purpose, a reason to get up in the morning, provides seven added years to life expectancy.
With a focus on social, spiritual, and physical well-being, elders in these communities seem to have found a balance that allows them to live long and well. One doesn’t have to adopt all the habits to feel the benefit. Some will be easy or appeal more than others. Learning to age well is about making informed, conscious choices that feel right for you.
It can be hard to accept, but at some point the physical challenges of aging will become unavoidable. Each of us will have the experience of losing our abilities. Eventually we will succumb.
It may be a crisis that lands us in the hospital. Or a terminal illness that allows us to die at home. It could be a heart attack. Or we could die because our organ systems gradually shut down and simply can’t function anymore.
The last few days
On the day we die, we will usually have been in and out of consciousness for a week or more. Unlike in the movies, very few people are awake, aware, or talking. The person may seem to be seeing or reacting to people the rest of us can’t see (hallucinations). Breathing will have become erratic and take on a gurgled sound, sometimes called the “death rattle.” Hands and skin will be cold to the touch. Eventually, the heart and lungs will find it too difficult to continue, and one breath will simply not be followed by another. The heart will stop.
The three pathways Of course, everyone hopes for a quick and painless death. To die in our sleep, perhaps.
It used to be that most deaths were the result of injury or disease. They tended to be quick and often unexpected.
With modern medicine, things have changed. Now we tend to die with multiple chronic conditions that have been managed more and more aggressively over time. Eventually, one condition overpowers the body and becomes the actual cause of death.
Sometimes it helps to know what to expect.
Dying is actually a process that goes on for months (even years, depending on the condition). There are three general pathways or patterns of decline:
Episodes of crisis with adjustments in between. In our older years, most of us manage well enough. We adapt. Then something happens. There’s a fall. A sickness. A surgery. We bounce back, but not to the level of health and vitality we had before. We find a new normal, and cruise along. Then something else happens. We dip down, and we recover. Again, just not back to where we had been. As a rule, over time, these dips occur more frequently, and the bounce back is lower each time. This is a common pathway for people with CHF or COPD, for instance.
A short and rather steep decline. Some of us will get a disease, such as cancer. If it is not the kind that can be cured, it has a relatively steep (short) decline.
A gradual decline. Some of us reach advanced years with few chronic conditions and very few crises. This pathway is a bit different. One simply becomes more frail. We lose weight and become easily fatigued. We walk more slowly and become less active. That doesn’t mean we are unhappy. It’s just that the physical body sort of dwindles. Usually it is an infection, such as pneumonia, that finally tips the scale. As an example, this gradual decline is the general pathway for Alzheimer’s disease.
Recently our family had to make some tough decisions about my Mom’s care. She has advanced Alzheimer’s and needed to move from the facility she has been living in, but to where? We spoke with Marsha Rains and she helped us a great deal. She has much professional as well as personal experience working with elderly people and their families. She listened not only to “ the facts” that we needed to express, but also to our feelings; in fact she encouraged us to express how we were feeling and what we really wanted for Mom at this point. After she listened and understood the situation AND our feelings she was very informative and she objectively offered us good suggestions in a kind and understanding way. She helped us make - with confidence- what we believe is the best decision for Mom at this time. I am very satisfied and grateful for Marsha’s help and will not hesitate to call again if we need further help in the future.
Marsha was extremely helpful in addressing our questions and concerns. At the end of our discussion, we definitely had a plan of action. She was frank, yet tactful and sensitive at saying what needed to be said. We recommend her to any families dealing with care taking of elderly ones.
Marsha is the calm in the storm. My stepmom fell and broke her back. I was spending 10 hours a day at the hospital, trying to work full time, and take care of my diabetic dad. I was completely lost and overwhelmed with all of the decisions that needed to be made, and didn’t know where to start, or who to trust. The guidance and explanations Marsha gave me were invaluable. I can’t thank her enough for her wealth of information and explaining what the options were and what to realistically expect.
Marsha Raines; Founder & CEO of Aging Well (Rochester, NY) is the woman that you need to consult with, if you have ANY questions regarding the broken, complicated, frustrating (understatement) & absolutely soul bending/breaking experience of having to care for your elder sister/brother/mother/father/aunt/uncle etc......in Rochester, NY (& likely nationally).Marsha's a "no bones, no hassle, get the job done," down-to-earth, honest, straightforward kind of business woman and she saved MY butt when it came to a serious communication breakdown between the ONLY facility that had occupancy availability for my elderly Mother.She works within an integrity level that is rare, by today's standards of what is professional.I cannot rave enough.....about her. If you are in need of someone with 35 years of experience in this radically changed & continually changing environment of healthcare for the elderly, I cannot think of anyone more qualified than Marsha Raines. I am very grateful to have made her acquaintance.
While searching for a reputable organization to perform a PRI for my 95 year old Dad I reached out to Aging Well Rochester.Marsha Raines returned my call immediately (I left messages with others and waited a few days) she put me in touch with her nurse Jodi Limner who scheduled a no non sense quick appointment at a very reasonable cost (others had a higher price plus travel charges).I would highly recommend Aging Well Rochester with your elder care!!
We were overwhelmed with choices and had more questions than answers when faced with moving a family member into assisted living. Marsha helped tremendously to prioritize our actions and narrow our choices. She answered all of our questions and put us at ease. I highly recommend her.
Marsha was so helpful during the time when my elderly father was ill. Every time I reached out via email or voice mail, she returned my messages almost immediately, within the same day, even when it was after working hours. She helped my family cut through the conflicting information that I was getting from various sources regarding elder care in the Rochester, NY area. I feel that we were able to save time and focus on the important things after meeting with her. So grateful.
My conversation with Ms. Raines was extremely useful. My life presented an opportunity to learn very quickly about assisted living options in the Rochester area. After a detailed conversation, she was able to recommend three sites which fit our needs. Without her help, we'd still be looking at sites and not be able to focus our efforts on the details of actually moving.
I continue to be so grateful for the care and expertise that we received from Marsha, Sue, Ester and the rest of the team at Aging Well Rochester for our Mom. It was such a relief to know that we could count on them to provide kind, warm support to all of us. The other thing that was so important was their knowledge and understanding of the different options available to us and the best ways to work with other professionals in the field of elder care. We can’t thank them enough!
Marsha was a HUGE support in helping our family find quality care for my Mom who has Dementia. She took the time to answer our questions and concerns with respect and compassion. I am glad that we got to meet with her. She’s put a lot of my family’s concerns at ease and is always there if we need her. I wish more people acted with kindness such as this in the medical field - the world would be a better place!
Thank the good Lord that my wife researched and was able to find Aging Well Rochester and Marsha Raines when my daughter suffered a serious stroke. We had moved to Florida three years earlier and it was not possible to visit her and help with the needed healthcare management.Marsha and Jodi were there to guide us through the process to insure that she could be placed in a facility that could properly provide the care she needed. Given the healthcare crisis in this country, this was not an easy process.They were there each step in securing the best possible care and provided relief from the guilt we felt being so far away from Rochester. The compassion and professionalism of Marsha and Jodi were second to none. We are so very grateful for the service they provided throughout.
I reached out to Marsha @ Aging Well Rochester at a critical point when my dad was hospitalized and needed advice and assistance with coordinating next steps. Within 48 hours, I had had an in depth initial consult with Marsha, agreed to retain her services, and she made calls and was able for me to put in motion a tour and his eventual placement at a wonderful and caring Hospice facility.After my dad's passing, Jennifer worked with my mom over the next few months as she adjusted to all the changes. She was kind and compassionate and very knowledgeable on the process my mom was going through.I would recommend Aging Well Rochester for straight forward advice and counsel to anyone who is feeling "lost" in the confusion and maze of options with aging loved ones.
Marsha Raines provides much-needed assistance navigating a complex system during high-stress times. She is excellent at what she does. She asks important questions, listens, is efficient and very dependable.
Our family worked with Marsha Raines of Aging Well Rochester at a crucial moment when our mother was experiencing a decline in her physical capacities after living on her own for most of her adult life. Marsha was our guiding light throughout the process: explaining, with compassion, the various options for Mom; guiding us through the application process for both rehab and long-term care; and ultimately, settling Mom in at her wonderful new home where she is safe, comfortable and happy. I wholeheartedly recommend Aging Well Rochester!
Was connect with Marsha from Aging Well Rochester while searching for assistance with understanding the system and what is needed for elder parent. Marsha provided me with information, guidance, and took the time to explain differences between assisted living, independent living, and what questions to ask while interviewing for a new home for my mother. Valuable information. Marsha continues to follow up to assist if needed. Very pleased and so glad found Aging Well at a crazy time.
Coming to grips with a parent's decline and figuring out how to meet their needs can be a terribly stressful ordeal. Marsha and her team made it vastly less so. Marsha's calm demeaner, wisdom and professionalism were invaluable during the 8 months during which my father's needs were rapidly changing. She has a wealth of knowledge about resources available in the community and was able to bring them to bear quickly. I will be eternally grateful for the emotional support she provided during the entire journey.
At a time when you don't know what you don't know, Marcia knows! She asks the right questions, narrows the choices, and provides direction. She definitely helped us feel more confident as we moved forward, and she was thoughtful enough to follow up to be sure we were making progress. Highly recommend.
Marsha's experience and knowledge are invaluable to our family during this difficult time! We can now take the necessary steps for our parents' care with confidence. Extremely helpful!
Marsha and staff were exceptional in their guidance though the difficult and unfamiliar journey of finding quality care for our aging parents. For over three years, they were able to anticipate needs, advocate for our parents, and provide support for them through various crises. We are so thankful for their expertise and compassion through all the changes. We highly recommend Aging Well Rochester to anyone seeking help with aging loved ones.
I just want to thank Aging Well Rochester for their assistance to complete an urgent PRI for my stepmother and also one for my father in case we needed it. The nurse went above & beyond to do that for us as we fortunately found a bed quickly for my stepmother. All went well & she is now receiving wonderful care at St. John's Home. Thank you Marsha and your staff - you made a difficult situation much easier.
Marsha Raines was incredible--responsive, caring and very knowledgeable. She helped me navigate options and provided excellent counsel. I highly recommend Aging Well to you if you are facing a difficult and emotional situation with a loved one who needs ongoing medical/rehabilitation placement and services. Marsha exceeded my expectations. Christine L.
Our initial consultation with Marsha Raines was very informative as it provided our family with a starting point concerning a long term care plan for our aging father. Her knowledge, experience and compassion allowed her to assess where each of us were in dealing with the emotional stress of the situation and provide recommendations to get us moving in the right direct with a long term care plan. Marsha helped us narrow our focus to ask the right questions regarding our next steps in care for our father. Thank you Marsha!
We were exceptionally fortunate to have Marsha Raines of Aging Well Rochester assist us in placing my wife in an appropriate facility. She guided me through all the paperwork, answered every question I had and resolved every impediment that we found in the process!Thanks so much Marsha!
We received great service from Marsha. Highly recommend. Navigating rehab and long-term care can be daunting. Marsha breaks down the ins and outs and helps bring the family to consensus on the best next steps.
Our family reached out to Aging Well Rochester for an understanding of the options and to seek clarity as to next steps for our elderly father regarding his future care. Marsha provided our family with the assistance, guidance and resources necessary to make a decision that was best for our father. Marsha's response to e-mails and phone calls was always in a timely manner and we truly appreciated all of her knowledge and expertise and would not hesitate to recommend Aging Well Rochester!!
Marsha understands the world of aging and the decisions that need to be made. She has both the education and experience to navigate a complex system to secure the best care as well as the expertise to guide throughout the process. My wife and I are grateful for her depth of knowledge, experience, skill, and compassion. We plan to use her as a resource for years to come!
Marsha Raines and her team have been a gift to my family. I'm on the West Coast, and her local knowledge has been extremely valuable in locating care options and knowing what to look for. Her direct style does not shy away from talking about tough issues, and in fact, makes it easier to devise a care plan. Marsha is a gem.
I truly appreciate the advice Marsha has to share. She has a great way of putting things into perspective and knows her stuff! Thank you for the advice, help, and input while trying to figure out the next steps with my parents.
I hired Marsha Raines to help me find the best Nursing Home for my husband. She was professional, quick to answer any questions I had, told me all I needed to do, and quick find him the right place. She was extremely helpful and compassionate with this difficult undertaking . I highly recommend anyone searching for a home for their loved one call Marsha before doing anything else!
Marsha level of expertise in this field has been tremendous. She explained the changes that occurred in the nursing homes industry. She took the time to research nursing homes for me and this afforded me time to focus on my mother's medical needs. I found Marsha to be resourceful and committed to helping me through this difficult time. I would highly recommend her service to you.
We moved our mom to a memory care residence, and in just a few short weeks we realized that it was not the right place for her. Distraught that we had made a horrible mistake, we needed help. I contacted Marsha and she met with our family to help sort things out. She took our concerns seriously, consulted with other industry professionals to assess our mom, and found us a better place for her. Just two weeks later we were able to move mom to a wonderful residence that cares for her properly and gives us all peace of mind. We are so grateful for Marsha and her ability to navigate the challenging world of eldercare on our behalf.
My husband, Bradley, needed to be moved to an adult home due to my inability to continue caring for his needs. I had no idea where to turn until Marsha Raines name was given to me. It is very difficult to navigate this process while you are under stress and her kindness and actions got the process started making it much less painful. I highly recommend her for her insurance knowledge which was extremely helpful to me.Mary Ellen Hindson, Rochester, NY
Marsha Raines assisted our family through the most trying time of our lives with Mom. She was extremely knowledgeable about placement, finances local care available and placement. She was personally involved in contacting the care facility to assist in mom getting placement.Her recommendation of the Presbyterian Home was spot on. All grants recommended came through and we were able to continue her care until she passed away.Thank you Aging Well. I would recommend her services highly.
My parents needed more assistance than I could give working full-time in another state in 2015. They were facing medical issues and needed to move out of their beloved home of 60 years. Since then, Marsha and her team have been instrumental in supporting my parents, and me, through good times and bad. They arranged movers, set up and attended doctor appointments, arranged for aides and companions to assist my parents in living safely and independently, and checked in on them to be sure they were comfortable and happy. Marsha has been an incredible resource to me, providing information and advice when needed in a direct yet sincere manner. I feel relieved to know that Marsha is there to help when I can’t be, keeping me informed, and checking in when needed. She is an incredible resource and advocate for the elderly and their families.
I contacted Marsha two weeks ago. I quickly learned that a PRI, exam to determine the level of care was needed to go into a nursing home. I was given 10 local agencies that could do it. I chose "Aging Well". Marsha was so personable on the phone, getting all the fact. She was able to arrange the exam in 5 days. The nurse showed up on time and my aunt chatted away. Two days later I got an urgent call from my aunt begging me to find her a new place immediately, she had a horrible weekend and wanted out. So, I called Marsha back that same day and asked her to take our case on and help get my aunt placed ASAP. She was pleased to help. She sent me the 3 applications to the facilities my aunt wanted by the end of the day. She kept in close contact with me the next couple of days with words of encouragement while I scrambled to get the information. I submitted the first one. Marsha personally went into the facility and spoke to the intact person giving her more details of my aunt. 5 days later, I moved my aunt into the facility she wanted. Here is a photo of her reaction. Marsha is focused, very knowledgeable, explains the process well, upbeat and is very encouraging. I would work with her again in a heart beat. She is the best.
I have been working with Marsha since 2008 planning for the aging process and various transitions for my parents.She has always been incredibly helpful, knowledgable and available. Over the years she has grown the organization, but still maintains that level of support. Her manner is caring and supportive yet direct, a quality that I have found very comforting and helpful during stressful transitions. I can't recommend highly enough.
Aging well Rochester did an AMAZING job of helping my family deal with my experience and Hospitalization with Covid 19. Marsha worked with my children and family and the hospital staff to make sure that I would receive the care needed upon my return home. I can't thank them enough for making this experience as easy as it could be.
Living more than 500 miles away from Rochester, visiting my mother as often as we would like was a challenge. Luckily I found Marsha Raines and her colleagues at Aging Well Rochester. Their visits to my mom were so frequent and warm that the staff at the nursing home thought they were family! Actually that's how we think of them. In addition to the care and support for my mother, the feedback and advice Marsha and her colleagues provided us was always timely and helpful. I consider the day I found Marsha to be one of my luckiest. I can't imagine the last few years without Aging Well Rochester! Thank you for enriching my mother's life and ours.
More than one-quarter (28 percent) of persons over age seventy have experienced at least some vision loss. The normal changes of aging have potentially serious effects:
Nearly one-quarter of persons age sixty-five to seventy-four and half of those age seventy-five and older have a disabling hearing loss. It’s not only a matter of volume, but also being unable to hear words clearly. Loss of hearing has deep consequences.
The sense of touch involves not only the skin, but also our nerves and brain. As we age, our sensitivity to touch, temperature, pressure, vibration, and the position of our body changes. Reduced sensitivity can have serious outcomes:
Eating is one of life’s pleasures. However, the taste buds lose their sensitivity with age, and the tongue has fewer of them. Following are some of the pitfalls:
The ability to perceive odors declines with age, especially after age seventy. While outwardly this might seem to have some benefits, there are definite disadvantages:
