La Jolla Senior Care News

Is it Dangerous for Your Senior to Have a Diminished Sense of Smell?

Home Care Services in La Jolla CA: As your senior ages, she may find that her sense of smell is not as strong as it used to be. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the most important question is whether it's dangerous for her or not.
Home Care Services in La Jolla CA: Dangers Of Seniors Diminished Sense of Smell

 

You might not realize that having a damaged sense of smell is bigger than an inconvenience, but that can be true.

Here are just a few of the ways that a diminished sense of smell might be a true danger to your aging adult.

 

-Smoke Smells

Smoke almost always means that there is something else going on, even if it isn’t a full-fledged fire. Making sure that your senior has working smoke detectors is an excellent start. On a daily basis, being able to smell smoke even before a smoke detector picks it up can avert quite a few different types of disaster in your senior’s home.

 

-Food that’s Past its Prime

Spoiled food can sometimes give your aging adult some visual cues, such as mold growing on it or changing color, but that doesn’t happen with all food as quickly as it should. That’s when being able to smell that food is spoiled is essential. Relying on dates isn’t even completely reliable since there are a variety of factors that can cause food to go bad before it’s eaten.

 

-Chemical Smells

Household chemicals and gases from items like paint can be harmful even if your senior can’t smell them. The fumes can build up and create health problems for your elderly family member. Reducing the number of chemicals used in your aging adult’s home when she can’t smell them very well can be an important way to protect her health.

 

-Gas Leaks

If natural gas is used in your senior’s area, she’s probably well aware of the dangers of gas leaks. Natural gas companies add elements to the gas that cause it to smell bad, which is the first indication usually that there’s a leak in your senior’s home. If she can’t smell that telltale smell, however, she might be exposed to far more natural gas than is healthy.

Depending on the severity of your senior’s diminished sense of smell, it might be a good idea to have extra help available. Senior care providers and other family members can prevent problems from things your aging adult can’t smell.

For more information about home care services in La Jolla, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.

 

Brittnei Salerno

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