Informational and educational project using geriatric suits
About this good practice
Today's demographic changes show an aging population and increasing numbers of elderly individuals. Strategic policies focus on mobilizing and integrating older people and standardizing social services. Changing young people's perception of the elderly is crucial for fostering understanding, empathy, and engagement in senior initiatives. An innovative project using geriatric suits has been implemented to address this. These simulators provide realistic experiences of age-related limitations, including vision, hearing, grasping, and walking issues.
The project's aim is to make the younger generation aware of the daily problems faced by the elderly and to teach respect and empathy toward seniors. School visits include a theoretical session on aging society issues and a practical session using geriatric suits. These suits simulate physical ailments like vision problems, reduced movement, balance issues, hearing difficulties, and grasping problems. Participants wear the suits and perform tasks from a senior's daily life. The meetings are free of charge.
One old age simulator kit includes a posture-limiting suit, appropriate footwear, glasses simulating visual defects, sensory limitation gloves, a hand tremor simulator, earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, bracing and movement-limiting items, and a foldable wheelchair cane. These tools enhance understanding and empathy among the younger generation towards the elderly.
Resources needed
Participation in the project is free of charge.
The total cost of purchasing the suits with accessories amounted to: 40,667.49 PLN (9000 euros)
Evidence of success
From October 2023 to May 2024, educational and informational activities using geriatric suits were conducted in 16 schools in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region (for 42 classes and 800 children).
Potential for learning or transfer
It is crucial to educate children about demographic changes early on to foster empathy and helpfulness, potentially guiding them towards helping professions in the future.
Young people, interested in innovation, find the geriatric suit used in workshops engaging due to its experiential and tangible nature.
These classes also enhance family and social bonds, promote intergenerational integration, and foster a positive image of the elderly.
Additionally, the suits are valuable for companies designing devices for seniors. They provide: 1) Realistic Feedback—helping designers understand seniors' challenges firsthand, leading to more effective products. 2) Increased Empathy—allowing teams to grasp seniors' physical and sensory limitations. 3) Improved Ergonomics—guiding the design of devices to better suit older users' needs, improving usability and comfort.
Further information
Images
Documents
geriatric suit_Good practices_english.docx
Good practice owner
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