Informational and educational project using geriatric suits

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.