Which age-related change increases an elderly patient's risk for accidental injury?

Decreased sense of touch plays a significant role in increasing an elderly patient's risk for accidental injury. As individuals age, sensory perception often diminishes, including the ability to feel pressure, temperature, or pain accurately. This decline in tactile sensitivity can lead to accidents because an elderly person may not notice potential hazards, such as hot surfaces or sharp objects, and may also be less aware of their body position, which increases the risk of falls or collisions.

This change can affect their ability to react appropriately to their environment. For instance, if they can't feel their footing well, they could easily stumble or trip over obstacles without realizing it. Additionally, diminished tactile feedback can complicate daily activities and tasks that require fine motor skills, further contributing to the likelihood of injury.

In contrast, the other options, while they also relate to changes that occur with aging, do not directly correlate to an increased risk of injury in the same way. Decreased pain tolerance and mid-range hearing loss may lead to discomfort or affect communication, but they do not directly compromise physical safety to the extent that reduced tactile sensation does. Senile arcus is typically a benign age-related change in the eyes that does not significantly impact physical safety or risk for injury.