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 this section of the website, 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 65 and older and you will see remarkable variation. Have them stand in chronological order and you may be surprised that some in the higher years appear to have more vigor than some in the younger years. This is not for passing judgment. It’s simply to acknowledge that we don’t all age at the same rate.
Below is information about the normal process of physical aging. And—especially for those who are not yet experiencing them—insights concerning how those changes impact our lives on a daily basis and in the larger overview.
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Normal aging: the five senses
The normal changes of aging, and the necessary daily lifestyle adjustments, are most readily seen when looking at the five senses. Vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell are how we perceive our environment. They greatly impact our understanding, and often, our joy in the world. These normal changes create some risks and result in the need to do things differently, to adapt.
Vision As many as 30% of persons 75 or older have experienced at least some vision loss. This is due, in great part, to Presbyopia, literally “old sight.” Presbyopia begins in middle-age and is caused by the lens of the eye becoming less flexible. The normal changes of aging result in
Difficulty seeing up close. Glasses or contacts can usually remedy this.
Need for more light. We just don’t have the receptors we used to.
Reduced ability to judge distance. This can have serious consequences for driving as we have trouble judging the speed of on-coming cars, creating challenges when making a left hand turn or entering the freeway.
Problems with glare. Adjusting to light and dark takes much longer. 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.
Two-out-of-three legally blind individuals are people over 65 who lost their site due to age-related diseases. The most common diseases include glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Hearing Nearly one quarter of persons 65 – 74 and half of those 75 and older have a disabling hearing loss. It’s not a matter only of volume, but also being unable to hear words clearly. Loss of hearing has deep consequences.
Injury. Not hearing can lead to greater chance of injury, particularly with cars as we may not hear one approaching.
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 tend to amplify all noises, so are less than ideal. Only 25% of persons with hearing loss use hearing aids.
Other hearing impairments include tinnitus, a generally 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, we become less aware of pain, temperature, pressure, vibration and the position of our body. Reduced sensitivity can lead to:
Burns. We may not feel something as 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 dressed based on the numbers.
Infection. By not feeling pain as acutely, we can have a sore or infection developing and not know it. 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. Some of the pitfalls include:
Over salting, or sweetening 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 70. 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 also cause problems in that 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.
Women’s medical risks are different from men’s. Certainly for women and men both, any change that brings about pain, bleeding, fever, nausea, diarrhea or dizziness should signal the need to see a doctor. Also, an unintended loss in weight, or problems with general tasks of daily life that were easy before (driving, preparing meals, light housekeeping, paying bills, dressing, bathing, eating, toileting). These can indicate a medical problem worth investigating.
Early detection Many conditions develop without any outward signs. High blood pressure or cholesterol, for instance, do not have physical symptoms, but they can cause big problems if they go undetected. Fortunately, a good number of the diseases that develop in older adults can be prevented, cured, or at least managed well, if they are caught early.
Screening Guidelines
Below are the guidelines set out by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for regular screening exams for women 65 or older.
Blood pressure
Have your blood pressure checked every year.
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 Breast cancer
If you notice a change in your breasts, contact your doctor right away.
Once every 1-2 years up to age 70: Get a mammogram. Talk with your doctor if you are over 70 years old.
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Cholesterol and heart disease
Every 5 years: Have your cholesterol level checked (a fasting blood test).
Have it checked more often if you have diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems: ask your doctor.
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Colon Cancer
You should be screened for colorectal cancer until age 75. There are several screening tests available. Some common tests include:
Every year: a fecal occult blood test.
Every 5 years: a flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Every 10 years: a colonoscopy, unless you have risk factors for colon cancer. Ask your doctor about recommended frequency.
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Dental exams
Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning.
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Diabetes
Every 3 years: Screening for diabetes.
More often if you are overweight and have other risk factors for diabetes: ask your doctor.
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Eye exams
Every 1-2 years: Have an eye exam.
At least every year if you have diabetes.
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General physical exam
Yearly: Get a physical exam with your doctor. Medicare will pay for this.
Hearing tests
If you have symptoms of hearing loss, have your ears tested.
Immunizations
Once: Get a pneumococcal vaccine if you have never had one, or if you received one more than 5 years before you turned 65.
Every year: Get a flu shot.
Every 10 years: Get a tetanus-diphtheria booster.
Once after age 60: You may get a shingles or herpes zoster vaccination.
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Lung Cancer
Once a year if you have a 30 pack-year smoking history AND you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years: Get a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) until age 80.
Osteoporosis
Initial test at 65: All women over age 64 should have a bone density test(DEXA scan). Discuss with your doctor when you should have a follow-up scan.
Pelvic exam and pap smear
NO need for pap smear or pelvic exam if, by age 65, you have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer or precancer.
Men’s medical risks are different from women’s. Certainly for men and women both, any change that brings about pain, bleeding, fever, nausea, diarrhea or dizziness should signal the need to see a doctor. Also, an unintended loss in weight, or problems with general tasks of daily life that were easy before (driving, preparing meals, light housekeeping, paying bills, dressing, bathing, eating, toileting). These can indicate a medical problem worth investigating..
Early detection Many conditions develop without any outward signs. High blood pressure or cholesterol, for instance, do not have physical symptoms, but they can cause big problems if they go undetected. Fortunately, a good number of the diseases that develop in older adults can be prevented, cured, or at least managed well, if they are caught early.
Below are the guidelines set out by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for regular screening exams for men 65 or older.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Initial screening if you have been a smoker and are between 65 – 75: Ultrasound.
Blood pressure
Have your blood pressure checked every year.
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Cholesterol and heart disease
Every 5 years: Have your cholesterol level checked (a fasting blood test).
Have it checked more often if you have diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems: ask your doctor.
Colon Cancer You should be screened for colorectal cancer until age 75. There are several screening tests available. Some common tests include:
Every year: a fecal occult blood test.
Every 5 years: a flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Every 10 years: a colonoscopy, unless you have risk factors for colon cancer. Ask your doctor about recommended frequency.
Dental exams
Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning.
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Diabetes
Every 3 years: Screening for diabetes.
More often if you are overweight and have other risk factors for diabetes: ask your doctor.
Eye exams
Every 1-2 years: Have an eye exam.
At least every year if you have diabetes.
General physical exam
Yearly: Get a physical exam with your doctor. Medicare will pay for this.
Hearing tests
If you have symptoms of hearing loss, have your ears tested.
Immunizations
Once: Get a pneumococcal vaccine if you have never had one, or if you received one more than 5 years before you turned 65.
Every year: Get a flu shot.
Every 10 years: Get a tetanus-diphtheria booster.
Once after age 60: You may get a shingles or herpes zoster vaccination.
Lung Cancer
Once a year if you have a 30 pack-year smoking history AND you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years: Get a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) until age 80.
Osteoporosis
Men also have problems of thinning and brittle bones as they age.
Once: Men age 70 and over should consider getting bone mineral density testing.
Talk with your doctor to find out if you have risk factors for osteoporosis.
Prostate cancer
Talk with your provider about prostate cancer This is such a slow growing cancer that unless you have symptoms, it has been determined that the consequences of screening have been less beneficial than waiting for symptoms to appear.
We are living longer!
Only 100 years ago, the average person lived to their mid-fifties. Now, the average life expectancy is in the late seventies. If you’ve made it to 70 already, there’s a 20-30% chance you will see your 90th birthday. As for children born today, 10% of little girls are likely to live to 100 or more.
Are we living well?
While we are living longer lives, many of those years spent managing multiple chronic conditions. Diabetes. High blood pressure. Congestive heart failure. Alzheimer’s and other dementia’s. COPD. It is these chronic conditions that can profoundly impact our daily experience of life.
What you can control Know your numbers. Monitoring your health is the best way to identify a problem brewing and take immediate action. The American Heart Association suggests that every adult keep track of their
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Blood Sugar
Body Mass Index (Height-to-Weight calculation)
Talk with your doctor to find out where you stand and what you can do.
The importance of lifestyle changes to prevent or manage these chronic conditions cannot be over-emphasized. Ideally one makes those changes in mid-life (take note daughters and sons). But even in later years, eating well, stopping smoking and becoming more active can do a tremendous amount to help you feel better. And to stay independent and do the things you enjoy doing.
Improving quality of life
Quality of life is the ability to spend your days doing the things that give you joy or bring meaning to your life.
Of course, the goal is to live a long life. But as we age, the quantity of one’s days often becomes less important. The quality becomes a bigger priority. What most of us hope for is good health and then to die in our sleep. Not very common—or likely. Once you accept that, however, you can look candidly at ways to increase the quality of your days, no matter your state of health. In terms of your physical health, that revolves around four strategies:
Maximizing energy
Simplifying demands
Reducing pain and discomfort
Focusing on activities that bring joy and meaning
As experts in aging well, we can help you look realistically at your physical challenges. Together we can come up with strategies to give you maximum independence and the highest quality of life. Give us a call at 585-271-0400.
If we’re facing facts, we have to admit that at some point the physical challenges of aging will become unavoidable. Each of us will walk the path of losing abilities. Eventually we will succumb. This is not a battle we will ultimately win.
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 any more.
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 the movies, very few people are awake, aware or talking. Breathing will have become erratic, as will the heartbeat. Eventually, the heart and lungs will find it too difficult to continue, and one breathe will simply not be followed by another. The heart will stop.
The three pathways Everyone hopes for a quick and painless death. To die in our sleep.
It used to be that most deaths were the result of injury or disease. They did tend to be quick, and often unexpected.
With modern medicine, things have changed. We now tend to die with multiple chronic conditions that have been managed more and more aggressively over time. One condition eventually over powers the body and becomes the actual cause of death.
Sometimes it helps to know what to expect.
Researchers have identified three general pathways for the last few years:
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 up to the level of general health and vitality we had before. We find a new normal, and cruise along. Then something else happens. We dip down, and we recover. Just not up 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, like cancer. If it is not the kind that can be cured, it has a relatively steep (short) decline.
A gradual decline. There are some of us who 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 ever more slowly and become less active. That doesn’t mean 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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
Aging is about change
As many as 30% of persons 75 or older have experienced at least some vision loss. This is due, in great part, to Presbyopia, literally “old sight.” Presbyopia begins in middle-age and is caused by the lens of the eye becoming less flexible. The normal changes of aging result in
Nearly one quarter of persons 65 – 74 and half of those 75 and older have a disabling hearing loss. It’s not a matter only 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, we become less aware of pain, temperature, pressure, vibration and the position of our body. Reduced sensitivity can lead to:
Eating is one of life’s pleasures. However, the taste buds lose their sensitivity with age, and the tongue has fewer of them. Some of the pitfalls include:
The ability to perceive odors declines with age, especially after age 70. While outwardly, this might seem to have some benefits, there are definite disadvantages:
Women’s medical risks are different from men’s. Certainly for women and men both, any change that brings about pain, bleeding, fever, nausea, diarrhea or dizziness should signal the need to see a doctor. Also, an unintended loss in weight, or problems with general tasks of daily life that were easy before (driving, preparing meals, light housekeeping, paying bills, dressing, bathing, eating, toileting). These can indicate a medical problem worth investigating.
Men’s medical risks are different from women’s. Certainly for men and women both, any change that brings about pain, bleeding, fever, nausea, diarrhea or dizziness should signal the need to see a doctor. Also, an unintended loss in weight, or problems with general tasks of daily life that were easy before (driving, preparing meals, light housekeeping, paying bills, dressing, bathing, eating, toileting). These can indicate a medical problem worth investigating..
Know your numbers. Monitoring your health is the best way to identify a problem brewing and take immediate action. The American Heart Association suggests that every adult keep track of their
