Changes in Taste and Smell
Taste and smell are interrelated and important for eating as well as checking for hazards in the environment such as spoiled food, smoke, and fumes. Older adults have some decrease in the ability to taste resulting from a reduction in the total number of taste buds, especially after age 80. Some individuals also experience a decline in their sense of smell, but this is usually from non-normal conditions such as blockage or disease of the olfactory receptors in the upper sinus. Some results of these changes are:
- decreased interest in food
- desire for more salty or highly seasoned food
- reduced awareness of:
- body odor
- environmental hazards such as spoiled food or smoke
- hazardous fumes
Uatpat.org - The Utah Assistive Technology Program is designed to help you know what assistive technology is available, how to get funding for assistive technology, and to provide you with links and resources.