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Well, Easter 2021 has come and gone. Hopefully, all of you out there shared precious and memorable moments celebrating Easter with your family. Now it is time to celebrate Spring and a systematic return to more pleasant weather. As most of you know, here at Bethlehem’s Gateway Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care we offer regular and recurring advice via this blog to educate our residents, their family, caregivers, and friends.

Over the weekend, a neighbor who cares for her senior father confided that her Dad didn’t celebrate her traditional Easter meal as he normally does. It was just a passing comment and in no way meant to be critical. It gave me pause to share with her a few things to keep in mind about the aging process, one of them being about aging and its effect upon the sense of taste. More on that in a moment.

When you think of the aging process, you may think of wrinkles, diminishing vision, hearing impairment, or muscle loss. These are obvious signs of growing old, and they happen to almost everyone. However, there are effects of aging that many people overlook. These concerns may go undetected for some time, so it is important to know how our bodies are continually changing. The following are four results of growing older that you may not have considered.

1. Slower Reaction Time: After the age of twenty-four, the brain starts to break down, which leads to slower response times. The descent is usually gradual and is different from person to person. As brain activity slows, response time can decrease enough to put someone at risk of injury. Staying active both mentally and physically can be a promising way to decrease the rate at which the brain breaks down.


2. Wounds Heal More Slowly: As you age, the body gradually experiences delays in wound healing. There can be many causes of this, such as a delayed inflammatory response or reduced skin elasticity. You may be aware that bruises and cuts heal noticeably slower, but there are ways to enhance the recovery process. By staying active with physical exercise, the healing time for wounds can be increased by 25%. Gateway Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care is proud to prioritize and deliver opportunities to keep both our Memory Care residents and our Assisted Living residents happy to provide residents with campus features to increase your loved one's physical activity.


3. Loss of Bone Density: Osteoporosis is a common disease that develops as you age. Around the age of 50, bone breakdown begins to occur and increases the risk of fractures and breaks. It is important to understand that preventative actions can be taken to lower your chances of developing Osteoporosis. A diet rich in protein, calcium, and magnesium can be effective at preserving bone density. It is always good to talk with your physician about what measures can be taken to avoid bone density loss.


4. A Decrease in Taste Bud Sensitivity: We are born with nine thousand taste buds. As we age, those taste buds begin to shrink and can lose sensory effectiveness. By the time you reach 60, you may not distinguish different tastes as easily as you could in the past. Sweet, salty, sour, or bitter foods can become difficult to identify, leading to diminished appetites. We celebrate our uninterrupted ability to deliver nutritionally balanced meals!

Growing old is something no one can avoid. Remember to be aware of the ways your body may change so that you will know if or when they happen. At Gateway Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care here in Bethlehem it is our privilege to keep your loved one loved, healthy, and cared for.