Why do older people smell?

The slightly sugary smell that is felt from the first minutes in the apartments where the elderly live, perhaps, cannot be confused with anything. This is the smell of old age ... I will say right away that not all elderly people smell like that. But most ...

The reasons for the smell of old age can be:

The special chemicals produced in the human body as it ages are nonenals. The older a person is, the more nonenals he has, which are responsible for the characteristic smell of older people.

Insufficient level of personal hygiene (poorly washed body). Unfortunately, many seniors do not like to take a bath very much. Over the years, the skin becomes thinner, the release of grease decreases, which makes the skin dry and sensitive. Many older people have ichthyosis (increased flaking of the skin) and senile itching, especially in the genitals and anus.

Various metabolic disorders. Slagging of the body.
Medicines that are secreted through the skin.

With age, the sense of smell decreases, and many older people do not immediately notice the results of a delicate problem - fecal or urinary incontinence.
Low material level.

Due to the decrease in the number of capillaries, the elderly often feel cold. Because of this, they wrap themselves in warm clothes, usually woolen. And these things are rarely washed with detergents.

Things and dust around the elderly person.
Elderly people rarely ventilate apartments for fear of drafts and do not ventilate closets.
Elderly people rarely change their underwear and bedding.
Elderly people use little deodorants, perfumes, eau de toilette, etc.
What can be done to reduce the smell of old age?

1. In research at the University of Michigan, scientists took samples of sweat from men and women aged 45 to 70 years and in the process of the study found that with age, a person produces an increased amount of glucose and lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, older people who eat high-calorie fatty foods emit more unpleasant aroma.

The same smell is formed with frequent consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, because in older people, rotting of such foods can begin in the stomach. Therefore, low-fat, low-calorie foods and thermally processed (baked, boiled, or stewed) fruits and vegetables will help older people smell better.

2. In old age, water procedures should be carried out somewhat differently than in youth.

It is better to replace the bath with a shower. You can take a shower every other day, as the sweat glands work less actively over the years. It is better to use not soap, but a gel-cream with a neutral PH, which preserves the lipid layer. After the bath, apply an emollient cream for dry or sensitive skin.
The bathtub should have handrails and a rubber anti-slip mat at the bottom. In the absence of such, relatives should help carry out the hygiene procedure.
The water temperature should be warm.
If it is difficult to take a bath, you need to wipe the body with sanitary napkins soaked in emollient and anti-inflammatory extracts.

3. Drink plenty of clean water. Especially water is relevant for the elderly, as with age, a person feels less thirsty.

Water greatly facilitates the release of excess salt.
When an elderly person drinks enough, he excretes urine and sweat with a low concentration of all the substances that need to be excreted. With urine, toxic products are excreted, both introduced with food or air, and formed inside the body. The kidney cannot concentrate many of them, but excretes them in the same concentration as in the blood. The larger the volume of urine, the sooner the body is cleansed.

4. There is little pleasant in urinary and fecal incontinence, but these diseases can be corrected - there are special medications, gymnastics, surgery. As a last resort, there are a large number of hygiene products, from adult diapers to highly absorbent and odor-free urological pads, which can be obtained free of charge after registration.

5. House dust, which is largely formed from dead particles of the epidermis, causes an unpleasant odor. Skin flakes are rejected and fall into folds of clothes, on upholstered furniture, in the pile of carpets. Due to the rare cleaning, the lack of wet dust collection and the necessary change and washing of bed linen and clothes, a stagnant smell appears in the house. Therefore, it is better to entrust cleaning to younger relatives.

6. For aromatization of the apartment it is better to use smells of flowers, oriental incense, sachet with herbs for linen, citrus skins. A good way to fight off the smell of old age is with perfume. And not the smell of rose and lavender, which almost all men associate with the smell of an elderly woman. Use fruity or citrus notes such as grapefruit.

7. If it is not always easy for an elderly person to organize a balanced diet, it is necessary to take vitamins.

8. It is necessary to monitor the oral cavity to fight bad breath. Many older people do not know what a thread or tongue scraper is. The task of the relatives is to show and teach the older generation about oral hygiene.

9. You need to quit smoking, do not abuse alcohol and spices.

10. Many older people become stingy. This feature contributes to the accumulation of a large number of old things that start to smell after a long period of lying. Relatives should try to update the wardrobe of the elderly, contributing to the timely removal of stale items.

11. Many pets exacerbate unpleasant odors in older people's homes. This is aggravated by the impossibility of high-quality cleaning not only for the cat, but also for oneself.

P.S .: The old age of a person is inevitable, therefore it is necessary to be more tolerant of the elderly and help loved ones cope with this problem together.

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HAS LIVED 122 WITH A HALF YEAR ...

Not everyone knows how to be old.

Being old is not easy
Not everyone knows how to be old.
It's not all science to live to old age,
It is much more difficult to keep dignity.
Do not sink, do not succumb to ailments,
Do not bother others with sores,
To be able to stop in a conversation,
Less instruct and teach.
Do not demand undue attention,
Grievances, claims to loved ones do not save up,
Grumbling cannot be reached to senile,
And do not put pressure on your authority,
And not to pester too much with experience,
Young people have their own priorities
And this must be clearly understood.

Let not everything to your liking,
But don't try to change it
And don't fall for the false right
To teach others the mind and mind.
So that the foam does not come out in a dispute,
Don't complain and whine less,
Stopping boring a priori,
It's not easy to be old at all.
And there's no need to count the wrinkles
Trying to cheat for some time
Life has all its reasons
And old age is an inevitable path.
And if loneliness happens
To be able to survive it with dignity.
It's hard to learn to be old
Not everyone knows how to be old.
(Andrey Dementyev)