What Changes Are Normal With Age?

Signs of Depression
Many seniors experience depression as friends and family members die.

"That's situational, and we give them time to grieve," Reckmeyer said.

But clinical depression can cause seniors to isolate themselves, lose their appetite, stop caring about their appearance and develop other problems.

"When someone stops participating in things they once enjoyed, stops participating in their own lives, there's a problem," Reckmeyer said.

Depression and cognitive problems often go hand-in-hand, and one can mask the other. Reckmeyer said depressed people may not pay attention to a conversation around the dinner table, for instance, and because they're not paying attention, may ask questions about something that's just been discussed. So, someone who seems unaware or confused may be depressed instead.

Hearing and Vision
Eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma are common in older people.

"People need to have an annual eye exam, whether or not they wear glasses," Reckmeyer said. "Glaucoma is a silent kind of thing. You don't have problems until it's too late."

As for hearing, an inability to hear some tones is normal as people age. But anything more than that should be checked.

Sometimes, a person who appears to be having difficulty remember conversations simply may not have heard them. Or someone who asks a question that's just been answered may not have heard the original discussion.

People experiencing sensory deprivation can start to isolate themselves, so it's important to get the ears and eyes checked.

Staying on Your Feet
Falling is not normal.

Falls can be caused by a number of issues, including sensory deprivation, neurological issues or joint pain.

They can even be caused by nutritional issues, such as a vitamin D deficiency.

Some medications also can leave older adults feeling dizzy or disoriented. The Beers list includes medications or ingredients in medications that may be inappropriate for seniors. You can find it many places online, including on the Duke Clinical Research Institute site at dcri.duke.edu. (Type "beers list" into the search box.)

Consult a physician regarding medications if you're worried about falling.