“You don’t know what it’s like” is often the refrain of senior citizens who are burdened with a growing siege of physical problems.
An invention recently highlighted in the New York Times and at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show can help change that.
A Virginia-based corporation specializing in long-term care insurance has developed what is essentially the antithesis of Iron Man’s mechanical suit. This kind of exoskeleton doesn’t make people stronger; it makes them weaker and less coordinated. The goal: to help raise awareness of senior health issues and the need for fresh innovation in the senior care field.
The Genworth R70i Aging Experience is designed to mimic the effects of aging. A metal frame is connected by several motorized joints that are programmed to resist and restrict movement, simulating conditions such as arthritis, muscle degeneration—and even what it feels like to walk after a hip replacement surgery.
The R70i suit targets other senses by connecting to a state-of-the-art virtual reality helmet. Earphones distort sound and give the wearer a taste of hearing loss, tinnitus and aphasia, while virtual reality goggles obscure vision to simulate conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and eye floaters.
Promoting understanding
As more baby boomers retire, it’s becoming more important that future generations understand the plight of older adults. Caretakers and families can see the world through their elderly loved one’s eyes and gain an insight into the challenges that seniors face every day.
Most people who have worn the R70i exoskeleton claim to gain a newfound empathy for the struggles of their older loved ones, and take the aging process more seriously. The suit forces people to face the reality of their future by offering a first-hand look into what it feels like to be 30 years older. By appreciating the struggles of senior citizens, which may include anything from health care or financial issues to the difficulties of knowing how to start a business in retirement, families and professionals can learn how to provide more compassionate care for an aging population.
Increased awareness of common senior issues can also help to drive innovation within the senior care sector. By understanding the physical challenges that ailing seniors face, researchers can work to improve the technology and medical practices used to assist older adults in their later years.
