Question

20. (p. 545) Elsie, age 80, complains that the food in her

assisted living facility is "tasteless." She adds salt to
everything and secretly snacks on sugary treats that she
has in her room. Elsie:
A. is compensating for her decline in taste by eating the
sweet snacks.
B. needs to move to another facility where the chef is more
sensitive to her needs.
C. probably has a tumor or a small stroke in the part of the
brain associated with taste.
D. probably is depressed and complains about everything.

Answer 1

Elsie is likely compensating for her loss of taste due to aging by eating sweet snacks and adding salt to her food, which can be detrimental to her health.

Step-by-step explanation:

Elsie, age 80, complains that the food in her assisted living facility is "tasteless." She is likely compensating for her decline in taste by eating the sweet snacks. Both tasting abilities and sense of smell change with age, typically declining by age 50, leading to conditions such as age-related anosmia.

This can make food seem bland and unappetizing, prompting those affected to add more salt or seek out sweeter foods. However, excessive salt intake can lead to cardiovascular problems, making this compensation potentially hazardous to health.