WSEI University enriched with an old age simulator

The Old Age Simulator is a set consisting of, among other things, special glasses, knee pads or armrests. For example, when wearing glasses, you can see how a person with cataracts sees. And when you put on armrests or knee pads, you can get a feel for the movement restrictions faced by older people, the skills they lose at a certain age and their range of movement.

The equipment was purchased on the initiative of the Lublin UTW Forum Association at WSEI University.

Thanks to this equipment, every person can see what old age is and how difficult it is to live with. It shows the limitations of the elderly, illustrating how difficult everyday life and performing basic activities are.

The tool will be used in faculties such as: Physiotherapy, Nursing, Psychology and Pedagogy. Students will be able to experience literally first-hand what old age is. They will learn about the gradual limitations or loss of physical abilities that occur with age.

- Such a tool will allow for a better understanding of older people and increased empathy. By learning about the limitations of seniors, young people will be able to better understand their behaviour, perhaps in this way they will change their attitude and be more patient with them. We hope that in this way we will succeed in disenchanting old age and the perception of the elderly by the younger generation - says Barbara Zajączkowska, president of the Lublin UTW Forum Association.

There are also plans to hold workshops for secondary school students, which will be conducted by seniors from the UTW Forum.- This is part of a larger project we have submitted to the Ministry of Family Affairs, Labour and Social Policy. We will train a group of seniors who will visit schools and present the simulator to young people. It will be a kind of intergenerational volunteering - seniors will be volunteers for young people - stresses Teresa Bogacka, Chancellor of WSEI University.

Photo: simulatorstarosci.pl