Aging Insights: Understanding Physical Changes in Later Life

As we age, our bodies undergo natural changes that may make daily tasks a bit more challenging. These changes aren’t always obvious, but gaining a better understanding of them can lead to greater empathy and respect for seniors’ experiences.

While this article won't go into the specifics of every change that occurs with age, I encourage you to try this quick experiment to experience a few of the common physical challenges that seniors face

Try this experiment!

Please complete this hands-on experiment as you read. There's a short test at the end to reflect on your experience

Collect the following items:

Thick winter gloves

A cup

Some pennies

A pair of shoes with laces

Reading glasses with 2.5+ magnification (borrow if needed)

Some type of timing device

 

Instructions: 

Step 1: Put on the reading glasses and try reading a page in a book or newspaper without looking over or around the lenses. Notice how challenging it is to focus!

As we age, our eyes don't focus like they used to.  Starting in our 40s, our eyes lose elasticity, making close up reading more difficult. 

Cataracts and glaucoma can further these problems

 

Step 2. Now take off the reading glasses and put on the gloves

How many pennies can you pick up in 1 minute off a flat surface and place them in a cup?

(No cheating by sliding them off the edge of the table)

Loss of dexterity can make fine motor tasks, like buttoning a shirt or managing small objects, increasingly frustrating for seniors

Step 3. Leave the gloves on

Finally try to tie the laces of the shoes. Not as easy as it sounds, is it?

Fine motor skills can be made more difficult due to arthritis in the joints making everyday tasks more difficult.

 

These simple tasks provide a glimpse into the obstacles that seniors may face. By understanding their experiences firsthand, we can approach caregiving, assistance, and even conversations with more empathy and patience.

 

Was it a bit of an eye opener? It was for me when we did these exercises during a work in-service day!

TEST PORTION

I told you there would be a test; did you think I was kidding???

• How many pennies were you able to pick up?
• Were you able to tie the shoes?
• Which task surprised you the most in terms of difficulty?"
• If these challenges were part of your daily routine, how might it impact your independence or confidence?"