What causes that musty smell old people seem to carry?

Question

And forgive me for saying that they do. Well not all of them I imagine, but a lot of them do. They all seem to wear cotton, and all old people's houses smell the same! What is that smell?

Answer 1

Incontinence is a problem that many elderly people have to some degree. When you have problems controlling your bowels or your urine, the odor begins to permeate your skin, your clothing, and everything around you. Also, some elderly people do not bathe as often, because it is drying to their skin, or sometimes because they are afraid of falling in the tub or shower. Sometimes they have trouble getting in and out of the shower. If they are depressed, they may neglect their cleanliness. Also, they may have flatulence, their body's chemistry may create some strange odors, and their body cells, like younger people's, are constantly dying and regenerating, only the elderly do not regenerate as well as younger people. So the result is a musty odor. Cotton is absorbent, and does not irritate the skin like some other fabrics.
Be careful how you treat the elderly. One of t hese days, unless you die young, you will be in their shoes.

Answer 2

That's a good question. I worked in aged care for years and the ones who smell like that often use naphthalene flakes, or moth-balls in their wardrobes, maybe they want to preserve their clothes as they are probably as old as they are. But not all old people smell like that, some smell worse!!!!!!! I know my parents are in their 70s and they both smell perfectly fresh and "normal".

Answer 3

Well it's probably because young people don't take care of them like they should. It seems like it would be hard to reach everyone spot on my body when I've got glaucoma, arthritis, a broken hip, and a lazy young person hanging around that doesn't like how I smell but wont help me out.

Answer 4

Sometimes as one becomes older it is difficult to bath, and clean their homes.

You will notice they are always wearing the same outfit because they are sleeping in their clothes.

That person may need some assistance.

Answer 5

The smell is a dirty diaper. Or the cotton clothes dont get washed and the smell of the diaper stay in the cloth

Answer 6

That's a result of not keeping their personal hygiene up.
Their brains are going and they forget to do the little things we take for granted like changing your clothes once in awhile and
say, bathing or doing the laundry.

The clinical term is DEMENTIA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia

Answer 7

It's a combination of sweat, wee, and balm (for aches and pain).

In due time, babe.

Answer 8

Old spice aftershave.

Answer 9

It might be because they doodooed on them selves.

Answer 10

moth balls