Topic 1: Physical needs of the elderly

An age-friendly business makes it easier for establishments to be more customer-friendly, adapting them to the needs of the elderly, so that they can continue to live as independently as possible in their usual environment.

The physical needs of the elderly are determined by the following limiting age-related factors:

• Loss of mobility: decrease in muscle strength, loss of elasticity in the joints, decrease in visual acuity or alteration of balance.
• Decreased vision: loss of visual acuity, loss of visual field, alterations in the inner musculature of the eyeball, contrast, colour, etc.
• Hearing impairment: hearing loss is bilateral, predominantly affects high-pitched sounds and interferes with understanding conversations in noisy environments.
• Cognitive impairment: mood swings, decreased memory, orientation, organisation, language, comprehension or problem-solving ability.