some older people smell kinda "off"

Okay - I keep my mom for around 4+ hrs 4-5 days a week

I wash her clothes - so I know those are clean
I shower and wash her hair at least 4 - 5 times a week
she washes her hands and brushes her teeth here - so those are clean
she uses mouth wash and a bit of perfume- I see to that as well
her shoes are kept clean

yet she has this oder to her

but my Dad does not ...


what the heck is the deal with some older peeps smelling ?

Don´t know. Miles Davis spoke about this in his bio. Even though he was pretty old he was still getting really young chicks and complained about the way old people smell.He was the epitome of cool.

KoolEaze said:

I was reading it may have to do with ...

" Note that unpleasant smells from bodies are often the bellweather of a pathology or illness "

She isn't ill but does have Dementia/Alzheimers

I take care of my 88 yr old Grandmother and I have never noticed a "smell" about her. Our home also DOES NOT smell like and old person or nrsing home either. I bathe her in Johnson & Johnson baby products and wash the clothes with Gain or OxyClean.

Her diet I feed her lots of fresh fruits and veggies she don't like that much meat anymore. Along with plenty of water as well, she has been going great. My Grandmother has dementia as well.

Yes I have heard that the "smell" accompanies and illness so they say but I don't buy that at all.

rachel3 said:

Us caregivers need to stick together and share experiences

TY for sharing


s in caregivers edit
[Edited 3/24/09 10:29am]

Mach said:

Well, as long as the smell is not sulphuric it is quite normal for some people to smell a bit off. Could be the hormones. If a person does smell a bit like sulphur then I´d be more worried but other than that, "old people´s smell" seems to be quite common.

KoolEaze said:

I guess I will ask my Dr about it - and hers as well

perhaps different meds make different peeps smell ?

I've noticed this as well. But I thought it probably had to do with the fabric a lot of them wear - that polyester blend type of shit. For example non cotton panties do not do well in the breathing department. Know what I mean?

My grandmother on my fathers side 'smelled' as well.. her bedroom smelled 'old' too.. She was a very clean lady though.. my grandparent on my mothers side didn't smell at all.. I remember it used to smell like apples in their home

JustErin said:

Yes I do know ...

I switched her to all cotton a few yrs ago so her skin could breathe better and so that laundry came cleaner - even her bras are cotton now too - breathable shoes too

she does not STINK like bad - just an odd smell

My Grandmother wears depends and I put baby oil on her bottom and her skin is nice and supple. I did all cotton to for a few years and it helped alot.

It could be hormones could be diet but make sure you ask her Dr.

I'm not sure, Mach. Maybe it's an evolutionary thing -- like how we perceive the smell of opposite-sex family members differently than those of opposite-sex non-family members. Perhaps it's our biological cue that they're no longer prime options as reproductive partners?
[Edited 3/24/09 11:25am]

Like the smell of a baby's head ...

or puppy breath ?

Mach said:

They do! I think you're onto something there. Does she drink a lot of water? Maybe she's not getting the meds flushed out of her system.

Your body chemistry changes when you get old. Yuck!

really, really slow decomposition. blech.

My grandmother had that old smell
I always thought I was being bitchy, till we all noticed it in the family. Maybe they are starting to dry out, like an old piece of fruit.

JerseyKRS said:

Inner rot.