A SOUTH-AUSTRALIAN project is giving aged care workers the chance to try out a new 'empathy suit' so they can feel what it's like getting older.
Adelaide-based aged care provider ACH Group is giving up to 800 support and care workers the chance to try out the Premature Ageing Unisex Leisure (PAUL) suits as part of their dementia training.
The suit, which was developed by the University of Sydney's Department of Rural Health, helps simulate the physical challenges faced by older patients and those living with a disability.
The suit is fitted with straps, weights and braces to manipulate the body and restrict movement, sight and hearing.
As part of the staff training, participants wear the suit to carry out daily activities that allow them to experience a range of conditions including vision impairment, hearing loss, a hunched posture, reduced tactile sense and shortened gait.
Support worker Ashlee Wirth said she was surprised by how much she gained from the training. "It really opens your eyes, makes you reassess your understanding of our customers and how much they rely on support workers and staff, and how important it is to our customers to have their own independence," she said.
"It gives you such a good understanding on the restrictions people face daily. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone in the industry."
ACH Group Learning and Development Manager Rebecca Burns said the response from workers who had undertaken the training had been extremely positive.
"Many have told us they found the experience eye-opening, even when they have worked in the industry for a long time," she said, adding it was vital to have empathy working in the aged care industry.
"The suit experience provides a deeper insight into customer needs through simulating the lived experience of an older person."
The Australia-first program was launched at the beginning of the year, and now the aged care provider said it is on track to have around 800 staff members trained with the empathy suit by the end of October.
Three PAUL suits were used for the initial trial in March, and the company has since had 12 more suits purpose-made.
The program is a finalist in the recent Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) State Innovation in Service or Design Award.
Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Sydney's Broken Hill campus are undertaking research to study the effectiveness of the empathy training experience.
ACH Group General Manager (People, Culture, Business Quality) Nichole Tierney said the training will continue to be rolled out across ACH Group's workforce as part of onboarding and induction training.
"An ageing population worldwide makes it increasingly important that people employed in the aged care industry understand issues that older people face," she said.
Where to see them
ACH Group will be showcasing its empathy suits as part of ZestFest on October 2, 12.30pm at ARC Campbelltown.
Other ZestFest events include intergenerational singing workshops, a brain health seminar and a range of art classes, including watercolour painting, still life and abstract drawing.
Find out more about ZestFest HERE.