Taste & Smell
Simulation No. 1 - Smell - SNIFFING IT OUT
Taste and smell are considered less important senses,(1) but 75 percent of people over the age of 80 have major problems with the sense of smell, which impacts the sense of taste.(2) Age-related changes in taste and smell can contribute to behavioural issues, decreased pleasure of eating, exposure to risks (such as undetected toxins or spoiled food) and affect personal hygiene.(1) In the “Sniffing It Out” simulation, you will experience hyposmia and anosmia. Hyposmia occurs when an individual partially loses the ability to smell and is the most common issue with the sense of smell. Anosmia is a complete loss of smell. Both typically occur when there is swelling or blockage in the nose, which prevents awareness of surrounding odours. The loss of smell can lead to a decrease in appetite, weight loss and malnutrition in the older adults.(1) The simulation aims to increase empathy towards older adults that have experienced an age-related decline in their sense of smell.
Simulation Video
Duration of Simulation - 3 minutes.
Full Simulation Guide
Materials
- • 1 surgical or cotton mask
- • 3 cups
- • 1 bottle of hot sauce
- • 1 bottle of yoghurt
Procedure
- Complete the precursor simulations if you have not already done so.
- Put the yoghurt into cup 1 and hot sauce into cup 2.
- Leave cup 3 empty.
- Put on a surgical or cotton mask.
- Smell cup 1 (containing yoghurt).
- Smell cup 2 (containing hot sauce).
- Smell cup 3 with nothing in it.
- Remove your mask and smell the three cups again.
- Notice the differences in odour intensity.
Reflection Questions
- How did this simulation impact your understanding of how age-related changes to smell can impact your appetite?
- How can a loss of smell have a negative effect on psychological well-being?
- How can this experience help you to relate better to someone currently living with impaired sense of smell?
Testimonials
Simulation No. 2 - Taste - DAY WITH DENTURES
Nearly 25 percent of older adults have experienced partial or complete loss of teeth and use dentures. Older adults also frequently experience problems with the sense of taste due to oral infections, sinus and upper respiratory tract infections, diabetes, or nutritional deficiencies. Hypogeusia is reduced ability to taste salty, sweet, sour, bitter and savory.(3)
In the “Day with Dentures'' simulation, you will experience hypogeusia with a particular focus on salt perception. You will also experience dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing,(1) and what it feels like to eat with dentures. The simulation aims to evoke empathy towards older adults that experience hypogeusia and dysphagia as these age-related disorders impact their everyday lives.
Simulation Video
Duration of Simulation - 3 minutes.
Full Simulation Guide
Materials
- • 2 dental gauze or cotton balls
- • 1 salty crackers, pretzels, or chips
- • 1-2 pieces of sour food item such as sour candy, lemon, or lime
- • 1 chewy food item such as candy, chewy vitamins, or beef jerky
- • 1 soft food item such as banana or bread
- • 1 bottle of liquid such as water, milk, or juice
- • 1 scarf or headband
Procedure
- Complete the precursor simulations if you have not already done so.
- Place the two pieces of dental gauze or cotton balls between your lips and gums on each side of your mouth to simulate what it feels like to wear dentures.
- Eat the sour food item (e.g., sour candy). Pay attention to sensations in your mouth.
- Eat the salty food item (e.g., saltine crackers, pretzels, chips). Notice the difference.
- Eat a piece of the sour candy, followed by the saltine cracker. What you feel?
- Now, wrap the scarf/headband along with the frame of your face.
- Eat the chewy food item (e.g., chewy vitamins). How easy is to swallow now?
- Eat the soft food item (e.g., banana). Notice the difference.
- At the end, drink the liquid (e.g., water).
- Remove all items from your mouth.
Reflection Questions
- Can you understand how age-related changes to taste can impact your appetite?
- Do you think taste can have an effect on psychological and physiological well-being? How so?
- Has this experience allowed you to relate to someone that is currently living with these age-related taste disorders?
