Relationships between sensory decline among the elderly and the physical environment: implications for health care. Maximizing the wellbeing of the elderly through environmental change is of great importance.

There is an unprecedented increase in elderly people who are 85 years of age and older. At this point in life multiple sensory deficits become significant thereby limiting their means for gathering information and social interaction. Without sensory function the world becomes inaccessible. Therefore, it is extremely important to maximize the quality of life among the elderly through environmental means. This will offset the perception that most elderly are cognitively impaired when in fact attention to their sensory loss through adaptive environmental design can maximize well-being. Total wellness is dependent upon it.