Question

Using ordinary household items, you will simulate the experience of age-related impairments in vision, hearing, smell/taste, and mobility. Choose at least two of the impairments listed in the document and use the supplies indicated to carry out the activities. Attempt to carry out normal tasks, such as moving about your home, going outside, using your computer, eating or drinking something, etc. Describe your experience. How did it feel? What difficulties did you encounter? What thoughts do you have about the reactions or behavior of older people who have a form of impairment? How have your thoughts or feelings about older adults changed as a result of this exercise?

Answer 1

Ageing can indeed not be eschewed. It is inevitable. There are umpteen number of changes that take place during the process of ageing, from mentally to physically.

The evident physical effects on the body druing the ageing process are as follows:

1. Brain and Nervous system. The most affected part of the body is the brain and the nerves. As an individual grows older, the brain cells are ought to die. They are programmed in a way which effects the normal functioning of the nervous system which is responsible for all our reflex actions and the processes that take place within our body. It can lead to decline in memory, a silent stroke, being brain dead, or dementia.

2. Bones and Joints. The most common problem experienced by individuals during the aging process is having weak bones. The bones lose their density with time. With age, a little accident escalates the problem of bone recovery of an individual. A broken leg or a hip can put a person on bed rest for long while. The chances of recovering are sleek.

3. Eyes and Ears. Eyes and ears are the most significantly affected in the process of aging. Farsightedness is the most common problem experienced by older people. They have a problem seeing and reading objects that are very close to them. It makes it difficult for them to be able to perform any activities that include intricate details. They are unable to read small letters in the newspaper or be able to put a thread through a needle. Other problems like dry eyes, need for brighter light, changes in colour perception are accompanied.

Hearing ability also decreases with age. Accumulated earwax can be responsible for decline in a person's hearing ability. Also an age-associated hearing loss called 'presbycusis' may be responsible, which means inability to recognise high-pitched sounds. Something loud enough may not be enough for them to hear and comprehend. A hearing aid may come handy in order to accentuate the ability to hear.

4. Skin. It is the most visible physical effect on the body. A person would be said to be aging when his skin begins to look old. With age, the skin loses it's elasticity which results in droopy and wrinkly skin. The skin changes during the aging process as the body produces less collagen which is responsible in making the skin stronger and more elastic. An individual is able to recognise pain, or change in temperature due to the free nerve endings in the skin, But, older people are less sensitive to these changes as the number of nerve endings in the skin decreases.