Old person smell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s definitely there and innate. While poor hygiene contributes, a lot of it is just the body breaking down and literally decaying.

Add to that the breakdown of all the material items they have. Clothes are all older, some decades old. They will retain an odor after yrs and yrs of wear no matter what or how they are laundered. Household items are all older. Have you have shopped in a Goodwill or bought vintage stuff online? It all has a distinct smell.

The best you can do is to shower daily, including washing hair and scalp, air out house regularly, replace clothes regularly, and dust frequently, be on top of oral hygiene too

Yes, this. The throw blankets at my in laws' house smell SO bad. I bet they haven't been washed ever and are decades old.

Also, is it someone from Mirai that is coming on here every few months and starting the same thread??

I am the OP who started this thread and I have never heard of that product. I had to google it.

I am washing my sheets now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is offensive OP and you know it. I've reported you.

Why is it offensive? I am old, too.

I applaud you for being proactive about this! My DH’s parents have a severe case of this and it permeates everything in their house. We can taste it in the food, most definitely smell it in the food packaging. It started in their 50s.

There are special soaps and lotions to cancel it. I bet there are detergents too.

“Old person smell” does not start in the 50s! They must’ve had something else going on.

The elderly people in my life don’t smell. When I worked in a nursing home there was a definite smell, but it was usually clothing that was reworn without waging it hair that want freshly washed (they can’t bathe every day).

[Anonymous]

^^^

*Re-worn without washing

Hair that wasn’t freshly washed

[Anonymous]

My parents do/did shower regularly and change clothing daily. They do not/did not (Dad is now deceased) smell, nor does their home.

I think they/us really need to shower regularly, change clothing daily and wash bedding regularly. Maybe some old people don't do this as often as when they were younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is offensive OP and you know it. I've reported you.

Why is it offensive? I am old, too.

I applaud you for being proactive about this! My DH’s parents have a severe case of this and it permeates everything in their house. We can taste it in the food, most definitely smell it in the food packaging. It started in their 50s.

There are special soaps and lotions to cancel it. I bet there are detergents too.

What is it? I have no clue what OP is talking about? Like the denture smell that's like bleach?

It’s not a smell that comes from artificial fragrance or perfumes or just a stale house. It’s a terrible body odor that sticks to anything that they own. It lingers horribly.

Airing out the house frequently is a must. Washing hair frequently too. I’m not quite sure why some people have it more severely than others, but when we send our kids to their home for just a day, everything comes back with the odor (even plastics, like their suitcases). When they spent the night with us, we then immediately wash the sheets with hot water, multiple cycles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at a work Christmas party last night and I could smell the old ladies. I am already in my 50s. How do we prevent “old person smell”? This is my nightmare!

The "old lady smell" is a chemical called 2-nonenal that's caused by a number of factors, including:

Skin changes
As people age, their skin's antioxidant defenses weaken, which allows lipid acids to oxidize and create 2-nonenal.

Hormonal changes
Hormonal fluctuations, such as those that occur during menopause, can cause body odor changes.

Sweat composition
The composition of sweat changes with age, which can lead to body odor changes.

Decreased ability to self-clean
As people age, they may experience cognitive decline and weakened mobility, which can make it harder to maintain proper hygiene.

Medications
Some medications can change the body's chemistry and affect sweat composition.

Diet
Certain foods, such as those containing spices, caffeine, or the acid produced by asparagus, can cause strong-smelling compounds to be excreted through sweat or urine.

Environmental factors
Poor ventilation, mold, or mildew in a senior's living space can cause a musty smell that can transfer to their skin or clothes.
Other factors that can contribute to body odor include: Bacterial vaginosis, Diabetes, and Infection.


Senior Hygiene Tips: What Is Nonenal and 5 Best Ways to Avoid It
April 3, 2023
https://amyseden.com/nonenal/#:~:text=The%20skin%20has%20antioxidant%20defenses,in%20metabolism%20among%20older%20people.

Like typical body odor, clearing away nonenal is possible if you combine lifestyle changes and use effective personal care products.

Apart from shifting your lifestyle, here are five best tips from Amy’s Eden caregivers.

1. Ventilate the living areas every day An enclosed area or home can magnify nonenal odor, so make sure that you let air into your home through the windows to improve ventilation.

2. Wash seniors’ clothes using hot water and detergents that remove grease.Hot water and detergent may not completely remove the lingering greasy nonenal smell on clothes, but they will help minimize it.

3. Always wear clean clothes Don’t re-wear clothes or socks, or use handkerchiefs twice a day. After showering, always change into clean, freshly laundered clothes and toss used ones in the laundry.

4. Apply moisturizer after a shower Some lotions have antioxidant properties that may help mask nonenal smell.

5. Clean your home regularly Make sure you clean your bathroom, living area, kitchen, and other home areas that a senior loved one frequents.

Wild how these articles all link to the purveyors of that persimmon line of products. Read the freaking science journal people.

Do you stand on your front lawn waving your fist angrily and yelling at strangers who pass by? That could lead to old lady smells .., this is scientifically proven.

No, I’m very in my feelings about science denial and lack of critical thinking tho

[Anonymous]

My grandmother lost her sense of smell in a car accident and had BO in her later years wearing sweaters that needed to be cleaned but otherwise looked ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this in recent years with my mother, 72. It lingers in my house once she leaves, and like someone else said, it permeates food and packaging; I can taste it in cookies she brings over, and it sticks to the packaging of things she brings over for my kids. I can smell it in her house but she does her best to mask it with even more offensive room sprays. I know for a fact she doesn’t shower as often as she should, and doesn’t wash her hair enough. She has told me she only showers in the morning (I wonder if showering before bed would help) and only washes her hair a couple times a week. I don’t smell it on my dad.

I also smell it on MIL, but hers is slightly more offensive than my mom’s, only hers doesn’t linger or permeate the same way; MILs is like a cloud that lingers around her person, like Pig-Pen from Peanuts.

Wait - you don't think she showers as often as she should, but she showers every morning?? That doesn't make sense. How many times a day would you want your senior mom to shower?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this in recent years with my mother, 72. It lingers in my house once she leaves, and like someone else said, it permeates food and packaging; I can taste it in cookies she brings over, and it sticks to the packaging of things she brings over for my kids. I can smell it in her house but she does her best to mask it with even more offensive room sprays. I know for a fact she doesn’t shower as often as she should, and doesn’t wash her hair enough. She has told me she only showers in the morning (I wonder if showering before bed would help) and only washes her hair a couple times a week. I don’t smell it on my dad.

I don't think it's personal hygiene, rather it's the laundry wisdom that's popular these days. Tiny amounts of detergent, detergents chosen based on absence of plastic packaging rather than effectiveness, cold washes. A lot of washing machines, even if you choose a hot wash, it'll actually be more like what used to be a warm wash 20 years ago. Never mind a cold wash, which isn't going to remove body oils from clothing and bed linens. Even if you're happy with the results from tiny amounts of possibly ineffective detergents in cold water for most of your wash, you have to step it up for loads containing body oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is because they do not shower thoroughly enough and wash their hair.

OP: change clothes every day. Open windows to air out the house a little even in winter. Shower and wash hair. Clean bed linens and towels weekly. Your mind is playing tricks on you. If you do these things every day you will not smell.

My mom is in her late 80s and does not smell. She is a clean freak. I start noticing my dad's smell in the last few months. He is in his 90s and slowed down a lot this year. He still takes a shower everyday but I think he is not washing his hair as often as he used to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about old people teeth/breath? It smells like death.

They are dying. What do you expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this in recent years with my mother, 72. It lingers in my house once she leaves, and like someone else said, it permeates food and packaging; I can taste it in cookies she brings over, and it sticks to the packaging of things she brings over for my kids. I can smell it in her house but she does her best to mask it with even more offensive room sprays. I know for a fact she doesn’t shower as often as she should, and doesn’t wash her hair enough. She has told me she only showers in the morning (I wonder if showering before bed would help) and only washes her hair a couple times a week. I don’t smell it on my dad.

I also smell it on MIL, but hers is slightly more offensive than my mom’s, only hers doesn’t linger or permeate the same way; MILs is like a cloud that lingers around her person, like Pig-Pen from Peanuts.

Wait - you don't think she showers as often as she should, but she showers every morning?? That doesn't make sense. How many times a day would you want your senior mom to shower?

DCUM suggests two showers a day. Minimum.

[Anonymous]

Is it the same smell as like a goodwill or other thrift store?

I love thrifting but notice the smell lingers on my clothes and I can’t seem to get it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this in recent years with my mother, 72. It lingers in my house once she leaves, and like someone else said, it permeates food and packaging; I can taste it in cookies she brings over, and it sticks to the packaging of things she brings over for my kids. I can smell it in her house but she does her best to mask it with even more offensive room sprays. I know for a fact she doesn’t shower as often as she should, and doesn’t wash her hair enough. She has told me she only showers in the morning (I wonder if showering before bed would help) and only washes her hair a couple times a week. I don’t smell it on my dad.

I also smell it on MIL, but hers is slightly more offensive than my mom’s, only hers doesn’t linger or permeate the same way; MILs is like a cloud that lingers around her person, like Pig-Pen from Peanuts.

Wait - you don't think she showers as often as she should, but she showers every morning?? That doesn't make sense. How many times a day would you want your senior mom to shower?

DCUM suggests two showers a day. Minimum.

And remembering to hang toilet rolls with paper going over not under the roll.

Seniors with old lady smells most likely hanging their toilet tissue incorrectly. This scientifically proven and published in DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this in recent years with my mother, 72. It lingers in my house once she leaves, and like someone else said, it permeates food and packaging; I can taste it in cookies she brings over, and it sticks to the packaging of things she brings over for my kids. I can smell it in her house but she does her best to mask it with even more offensive room sprays. I know for a fact she doesn’t shower as often as she should, and doesn’t wash her hair enough. She has told me she only showers in the morning (I wonder if showering before bed would help) and only washes her hair a couple times a week. I don’t smell it on my dad.

I also smell it on MIL, but hers is slightly more offensive than my mom’s, only hers doesn’t linger or permeate the same way; MILs is like a cloud that lingers around her person, like Pig-Pen from Peanuts.

Wait - you don't think she showers as often as she should, but she showers every morning?? That doesn't make sense. How many times a day would you want your senior mom to shower?

DCUM suggests two showers a day. Minimum.

And remembering to hang toilet rolls with paper going over not under the roll.

Seniors with old lady smells most likely hanging their toilet tissue incorrectly. This scientifically proven and published in DCUM.

I love DCUM haha