Aging gracefully: Changes to taste buds, sense of smell

Taste buds … who ever really gives them a thought? When you eat, you either like foods you are trying, or you do not. Even though you learned in grade school what taste buds are, once you passed that test, you quite possibly have not considered them again as the reason why certain foods taste good or bad, sweet or sour, spicy or mild.

The fact is, you are born with 9,000 taste buds, which work in tandem with your sense of smell, as your sense of taste relies primarily on odors. Our sense of smell and taste change as we age. Beginning around age 40-50, the number of taste buds decreases, and the rest begin to shrink, losing mass vital to their operation. At age 60 and after, some people begin to lose the ability to distinguish between the taste of sweet, salty, sour and bitter foods. Sense of smell does not begin to fade until after the age of 70; its loss exacerbates the loss of taste for those affected. Whether these changes are due to simple aging alone, or caused by disease, environmental factors or smoking throughout a person’s lifetime is up for debate. However, the actual reason taste and smell declines with age may not be as important as the result can be for the elderly.

For many, losing the senses of taste and smell may mean diminished appetites. The aroma of a delicious meal is what causes one to long for a taste. If food suddenly does not smell or taste as it once did, some seniors may not eat as much as they should. They may lose interest in fruits, vegetables and other dishes that provide nourishment critical to maintaining good health. Because saliva production also diminishes with age, some seniors experience dry mouth and may have difficulty swallowing. For the elderly this can sometimes mean that eating becomes more of a chore than an enjoyment, again possibly leading to malnourishment.

In addition, seniors who lose their sense of smell are at risk of failing to detect the scent of rancid milk and food, or poisonous gases. However, Comfort Keepers believes there are a few things seniors can do to overcome these obstacles. For seniors who are losing sense of smell, install visual gas detection monitors that will alert them of any harmful gas present in their homes. Check the due dates on all food before consuming, and if a container does not list a due date, write the date of purchase on it with a permanent marker. Additional spices and seasonings can be added to food to enhance flavor and marinating meat or poultry may help.

Being proactive is critical. If you live too far away to help, hire a Comfort Keeper to aid your loved one in purchasing healthy food, cooking and even labeling packages to freeze for future meals. Comfort Keepers also offer companionship during meals, help cleaning afterward and are always up for participating in a game night or simply sharing stories after dinner.

Losing sense of taste and smell may not be fun, but it does not mean that the good life is over. You can prepare yourself, and your senior loved one, for these changes in advance. Be prepared to accept change, adapt, and be aware of potential hazards. By doing so, you can commit to aging gracefully … every step of the way.

For more tips and even a nutrition test to ensure your whole family is on a healthy track, visit interactivecaregiving.com.