Decreased cerebral

cerebral blood flow and

metabolism.
Decreased number of brain cells (neurons)
resulting in decreased reflexes.

Progressive decrease in the number of

connection between dendrites resulting in
decreased coordination.
Decreased amount of neuroreceptors resulting in
decreased perception of stimuli and decreased
motor response.

Changes in the sleep pattern leading to frequent

awakening during sleep.
Allow adequate time for client to respond and
perform tasks.

Avoid sleep interruptions at night, assess quantity

and quality of sleep, and provide measures to
enhance sleep.
Each of the five senses becomes less efficient
with advanced age, interfering in varying degrees
with safety, normal activities of daily living, and
general well-being. Perhaps the greatest of such
interferences results from changing in vision.
 Eyebrows may turn gray and become coarser in
men, with outer thinning in both men and women.

 Decrease no of eye lashes lead to increase

incidence of infection.

The eyelids lose tone and become lax, which may

result in
ptosis of the eyelids, and malposition of the eyelids.
Ectropion

Entropion
 Lens: yellowish of lens :Less able to differentiate
Cold colors.
 reduced elasticity of the lens,Presbyopia, the
inability to focus or accommodate properly due to
is common among older adults.

 The density and size of the lens increases, causing

the lens to become stiffer and more opaque.
 Opacification of the lens leads to the development
of cataracts, which increases sensitivity to glare, blurs
vision, and interferes with night vision.

 The lens increases in density and rigidity, affecting

the eye’s ability to transmit and focus light.
 The conjunctiva thins and yellows in appearance. In
addition, this membrane may become dry because of
diminished quantity and quality of tear production.

The cornea yellows and develops a noticeable

 surrounding ring, made up of fat deposits, called the
arcus senilis.

Corneal sensitivity is diminished, which can increase

the risk of injury to the cornea.
The pupil decreases in size and loses some of its
ability to constrict decrease ability to see in night.
Peripheral vision decreases, related to narrow of visual
field night vision diminished, and sensitivity to glare
increases.

Depth perception becomes distorted, causing

problems in correctly judging the height of steps.
Dark and light adaptation takes longer, as does the
processing of visual information.

Lacrimal gland and tear drainage:

Tear production by lacrimal gland decreased with aging
Resulting in decrease tear available to keep eye(cornea)
well moistened.
 less efficient reabsorption of intraocular fluid
increase incidence of glaucoma
 The organ of hearing and balance can be divided
into three parts: the external ear, the middle ear,
and the inner ear.

The external ear and middle ear are involved only

in hearing; the inner ear is involved in both
hearing and balance.

The hair lining the canal become coarser and stiffer.

 Presbycusis is progressive hearing loss that occurs
as a result of age-related changes to the inner ear
including decreased blood supply, reduced flexibility
of basilar membrane, degeneration of spiral ganglion
cells.
Age-related changes in the external ear can be seen in
auricle, which appears larger because of continued
cartilage formation.

The lobule of the auricle becomes elongated, with a

wrinkled appearance.

The auditory canal narrows as a result of inward

collapsing.
 Atrophy of cerumen glands, causing the cerumen to
be much drier.

In the middle ear, thickness of the tympanic

membrane result in a dull, retracted, and gray
appearance.

Alteration of the equilibrium because of the

degeneration and atrophy of the cochlea.

High-frequency sounds are the first to be lost then

middle and low frequencies may be lost also as the
condition processes.
 Age-related changes in the sense of taste are
related to alteration in the oral mucosa and
 tongue.

The atrophy of the tongue with age can diminish

taste sensation resulting in decrease No of taste
buds(loss of sweet_sour and salt sensation)
 The sense of smell is reduced with age because
of a decrease in the number of sensory cells in
the nasal lining and fewer cells in the olfactory
bulb of the brain.

In healthy older adults, olfactory

sensation(receptors) may be lost as a result from
normal aging, medications, viral infections, long
term exposure to toxic fumes, and head trauma.
 Touch involves tactile information on pressure,
vibration, and temperature.

Tactile sensation is reduced, as observed in the

reduction of ability elderly’s to sense pressure and
pain and the ability to differentiate between
temperatures.

These sensory changes can cause misperceptions of

the environment and, as a result, safety risks.
Ensure client has ophthalmologic exam annually;
for glaucoma and more frequently if having any
disease that affect the vision.

Use night lights, avoid drastic changes in level of

lighting; ensure object used by client are within
visual field.

Avoid using shades of greens, blues, and violets

together.
Use bright light when performing tasks such as
sewing, reading, and cooking; avoid fluorescent
light.

Use eyeglasses as prescribed.

Visits to health care provider regularly to detect

health problems (e.g. diabetes, hypertension) that
might affect the eyes.

Symptoms that require an immediate call to the

health care provider or eye care specialist include
pain, discharge, excessive tearing, floaters,
redness or swelling, and loss of vision.
Avoid use of over-the-counter preparations for eye
such as artificial tears.

Advise client to protect eyes by wearing sunglasses

for outdoor activities.

For decrease pain sensation and pressure, ensure

client changes position before tissue reddens.

Inspect the body of older adult for problems that client

may not sense; recognize unique responses to pain.