Unit L6165174 - Care for the elderly
Understand the ageing process
1.1a Describe physical changes occurring with age
The senses
Sight
Approximately 70 000 individuals over the age of 65 years in the UK are registered as
partially sighted; this is about 1% of the elderly population. Many more people are visually
disabled, but they remain not registered.
Eyes appear sunken in old age, due to loss of the fat around the eyes
The pupils tend to be small and slowly react to light; dilatation is also poor and
hinders adaptation to the dark, so diminished night vision can occur
The lens becomes less elastic, by the age of about 50, and focusing becomes difficult,
especially on near objects, so close vision becomes blurred (for example: during
reading). - The reasons that the lens in the eye becomes inelastic with age is because it
is continuously growing by the addition of new layers, similarly like an onion
Due to the reduced tear production, dry eyes can occur
I can help my patients with visual impairment by:
offering them to go to check their eyes by regular tests
keeping spectacles within reach and in working condition
ensuring that glasses are clean and the size is appropriate for the patients
insisting on proper lighting to maximize their visual ability
seeking low-visual aid advice
seeking support from the local association
Hearing and balance
It is very interesting that ’1 in 6 of the UK adult population is affected by
hearing loss’, and ’8 million of these are aged 60 and over’. 1
Tinnitus, which typically described as a ringing in the ears, is very common in older people
and it is sometimes the first sign of hearing loss. Hearing and balance are both influenced by
ageing.
Hearing ability reduces due to the deterioration of the cells in the inner ear responsible
for picking up sound waves (loss of high-frequency hearing)
Understand the ageing process
1.1a Describe physical changes occurring with age
The senses
Sight
Approximately 70 000 individuals over the age of 65 years in the UK are registered as
partially sighted; this is about 1% of the elderly population. Many more people are visually
disabled, but they remain not registered.
Eyes appear sunken in old age, due to loss of the fat around the eyes
The pupils tend to be small and slowly react to light; dilatation is also poor and
hinders adaptation to the dark, so diminished night vision can occur
The lens becomes less elastic, by the age of about 50, and focusing becomes difficult,
especially on near objects, so close vision becomes blurred (for example: during
reading). - The reasons that the lens in the eye becomes inelastic with age is because it
is continuously growing by the addition of new layers, similarly like an onion
Due to the reduced tear production, dry eyes can occur
I can help my patients with visual impairment by:
offering them to go to check their eyes by regular tests
keeping spectacles within reach and in working condition
ensuring that glasses are clean and the size is appropriate for the patients
insisting on proper lighting to maximize their visual ability
seeking low-visual aid advice
seeking support from the local association
Hearing and balance
It is very interesting that ’1 in 6 of the UK adult population is affected by
hearing loss’, and ’8 million of these are aged 60 and over’. 1
Tinnitus, which typically described as a ringing in the ears, is very common in older people
and it is sometimes the first sign of hearing loss. Hearing and balance are both influenced by
ageing.
Hearing ability reduces due to the deterioration of the cells in the inner ear responsible
for picking up sound waves (loss of high-frequency hearing)
