Ability to taste is also affected by smoking, dentures, and certain medications. Loss of smell can create dangers for those who rely on gas appliances. It also affects one's ability to enjoy the taste of food, again, affecting diet. Odors must be 2 to 12 times more intense for a 70 year old than someone younger. Twenty-five percent of people between 65 and 80 have major smell dysfunctions and after age 80 it increases to 50 percent.
Smoke detectors are very important, with batteries checked on a regular basis.
Vision problems may increase one's risk for falling. One in three over age 65 have some degree of hearing impairment. By age 35 most have lost the ability to hear some high frequently sounds. People who hear normally assume that all hearing impairments are like listening to a stereo set turned very low. There is a good chance that surgery can cure this type of hearing problem and that a hearing aid will help quickly and easily.