The sense of smell also called the olfactory sense, is such a powerful and useful sense. For seniors, engaging in olfactory stimulation can be a great way to improve their quality of life, boost their memory, and experience other benefits all at the same time. Companion care at home providers can offer a lot of assistance in trying new activities that involve olfactory stimulation while also offering a friendly face.
What Is Olfactory Stimulation?
Olfactory stimulation involves using smells and scents deliberately to evoke physiological and emotional responses from people. It’s a sensory activity that seniors can include with other types of activities that stimulate senses like touch, taste, vision, and more. Certain smells can trigger memories for seniors, relieve stress, and reconnect with the world around them.
Benefits Seniors Can Experience
Because scents are so closely tied to memories, seniors might reminisce more easily when scent is included. They might find that certain smells, like favorite meals, cause them to remember specific events from their pasts. Aromatherapy is so popular because certain smells can improve mood, boost spirits, and alleviate negative emotions. Olfactory stimulation can also help seniors to experience better moods, improved appetite, and meaningful conversations with others.
Ways to Try Olfactory Stimulation
There are lots of ways to ramp up olfactory stimulation for seniors. Scented candles, potpourri, and aromatherapy diffusers are all easy options. Trying different perfumes or scented body lotions every day is another idea. Another option is to tie in cooking with various herbs and spices for olfactory stimulation. Companion care at home providers can help seniors plan meals that include a variety of different scents.
Companion Care at Home Can Help
Lots of these ideas are ones that companion care at home can assist seniors with implementing. Some of the activities seniors can try with olfactory stimulation are connected with hobbies and activities that lend themselves well to spending time with someone else, like companion caregivers. Seniors can plan out some of these activities with companion caregivers and try a variety of different options.
Safety Issues to Consider
Embracing olfactory stimulation safely is so important for aging adults. Some seniors are sensitive to certain smells and may find that they can trigger issues like migraines or allergy attacks. Slower and smaller are important considerations when seniors are trying something new. Mixing a lot of scents all at the same time can quickly become overwhelming, so sticking to just one or two at a time might be a good idea. Testing scents before using them in larger amounts helps seniors to stay both comfortable and safe.
Olfactory stimulation is a great idea for seniors to try as they look for options to help their quality of life remain as high as possible while they age in place. Companion care at home can offer seniors emotional support and a friendly face as they try different scents and activities related to smell and olfactory stimulation. All of this together can help seniors to create a nurturing environment for themselves that they also enjoy.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in Easton PA, please get in touch with the caring staff at Extended Family Care Allentown today. Call 610-432-6766
Extended Family Care Allentown is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Allentown, Pennsylvania including Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Macungie, Whitehall, Schnecksville, Catasauqua, Northampton, and Nazareth.
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