This "aging suit" was developed by dementia researchers at the National Health Service Trust in Yorkshire, UK, to help caregivers better understand the needs and fears of elderly patients. After the suit was developed, doctors and caregivers tried it on to personally experience what it feels like to enter old age. This "aging suit" costs £3,500 and can simulate human aging, making one feel as if they have suddenly aged by 30 to 40 years.
Recently, Amanda Pratler, a journalist from Australia, experienced this "aging suit." With the help of a nurse, Amanda was fully equipped and, with the aid of this suit, transitioned from a woman in her fifties to an octogenarian. Amanda explained that the suit consists of several parts; first, she had to wear a pair of black goggles that simulate the visual impairments caused by cataracts, resulting in blurred peripheral vision and narrow sight, conditions often experienced by the elderly due to glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. This means that individuals can only see people and objects by constantly turning their heads, which is much more difficult than one might imagine, as the second part of the suit is a neck brace that simulates stiffness and limited movement in the neck. Amanda also had to wear ear protectors to muffle sound, mimicking the hearing loss often experienced by the elderly. Amanda stated that at this point, she had only partial vision, her hearing was diminished, and her mobility was severely restricted; the once-familiar world suddenly felt different, and she felt completely trapped.
What is frustrating is that these are just parts of the "aging suit." Next, Amanda put on a vest weighing 20 kilograms, further restricting her movement and making her feel noticeably hunched over. Amanda said she felt a tremendous weight on her shoulders, her back was painful, and it felt as if she might fall forward. Additionally, the suit includes three components: weights strapped to the wrists and vibrating gloves that release electric charges to simulate the discomfort experienced by patients with Parkinson's disease; braces and extra weights strapped to the knees and ankles to simulate arthritis and joint stiffness in the elderly; and a pair of oversized, heavy shoes that made her steps more unsteady and difficult.
Reflecting on her experience, Amanda mentioned that she is usually very healthy, going to the gym three times a week and often walking, but after wearing this suit, she felt immediately overwhelmed by her body. She said, "I couldn't see the people and things around me clearly, I could vaguely hear some noises, but it felt like I was suffocating. Moreover, my hands and legs were no longer like before; my joints had become stiff. I suddenly became a frail old woman, and even with a cane, I couldn't walk far, nearly tripping over the carpet twice. Concerned for Amanda's safety, a nurse stayed by her side, but under the influence of the suit, she didn't even notice anyone nearby. Amanda said that besides the physical difficulties and pain, she also felt a sense of isolation and fear. She attempted to wear the suit to make coffee, only to find that even making a cup of coffee had become nearly impossible; it took her a long time to climb the ten steps of the staircase, and it took her over five minutes to get into the car and sit down in the seat.
