The Elder Justice Resource Guide includes information about elder abuse, accessible courtrooms for older adults, capacity and confusion, effective communication, and available resources for older adults experiencing abuse. The Guide also includes a comprehensive directory of national, state, and local services available to older adults.
Capacity & Confusion:
Physical Changes Associated with Aging
Declining of senses – physical changes occur with age in all five senses:
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- Vision: Slower adaptation to changes in light; reduced night vision; increased sensitive to glare; greater frequency of glaucoma, cataracts
- Hearing: Loss of high frequencies
- Taste: Fewer taste buds; decrease in pleasure of food
- Smell: Decreased sense of smell
- Touch: Reduced sensation; increased difficulty in use of fingers
Decrease in organ reserve:
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- Organs take longer to recuperate from illness
- Body takes longer to respond and return to normal state frequency of glaucoma, cataracts
Number of chronic, medical illnesses occurs more frequently as people age, including:
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- Hypertension
- Coronary insufficiency (insufficient blood flow to heart muscle)
- Diseases of heart and congestive heart failure (weakening of heart muscle)
- Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
- Influenza and pneumonia
- Urinary tract problems
- Mental and nervous conditions
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Cancer
- Strokes
- Parkinson’s Disease
Specific bodily changes that occur with aging include:
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- Decrease in skin elasticity and increase in skin dryness and wrinkles
- Loss of hair
- Loss of teeth
- Brittle bones and stiffening of joints
- Loss of muscle strength
- Digestive difficulties
- Decrease in ability to maintain a constant and comfortable body temperature
- Reduction in vital lung capacity
- Nervous system changes including: loss of recent memory, weakening of attention span, and slower reflexes and movement
Created by:
LifeCare Advocates, 180 Wells Avenue,Suite 101,Newton, MA 02459, (617) 928-0200 www.lcadvocates.com
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