Month 10: Normal Aging Process & Caring for Bed-Bound Clients

Understanding Normal Aging

Not every change in an older client is a sign of illness -- some changes are a normal, expected part of aging, and knowing the difference helps you respond appropriately rather than over- or under-reacting. Normal aging often includes: thinner, more fragile skin that bruises and tears more easily; slower reflexes and reaction time; some decline in vision and hearing; more time needed to process information; and generally lighter, more fragmented sleep. These changes are gradual and don't typically cause sudden functional decline. A sudden change -- new confusion, a rapid change in mobility, a new inability to do something the client could do last week -- is not normal aging and should be reported, since it often signals an underlying medical issue like infection, medication side effect, or a new health event.