The first simulation of how it feels to age decades in minutes will be run by staff from Eisai at the new University of Hertfordshire simulation centre tomorrow (19 November).
The Elderly Simulation Experience, forms part of a two-day workshop designed by Eisai to provide their staff with a deeper understanding of the experiences of elderly patients.
The staff taking part come from across Europe and are responsible for promoting Eisai's "Human Health Care" (hhc) mission, which encourages staff to think from the perspective of patients and their families, and so increase the benefits health care provides.
Eisai is committed to developing and providing medicines that are founded on an understanding of directly experiencing the challenges faced by patients. "We hope this simulation of how it feels to be older will help enhance our understanding and empathy for patients - and therefore help us in our work to develop better medicines" said Chihiro Takayama, Executive Director of the Knowledge Creation Department at Eisai Co. Ltd in Japan.
The elements of the simulation to experience "old age" include:
- Earplugs
- Special glasses
- Vest to increase weight
- Elbow supporter and Wrist Weight
- "Old age" simulating Gloves
- Knee Support and Ankle Weight
- Shoes-type Supporter
The event takes place in the Eisai sponsored Community Room at the University of Hertfordshire in the Hertfordshire Intensive Care & Emergency Simulation Centre (HICESC). This room has been set up as a normal household environment, so that student nurses or paramedics can experience what it is like to use emergency equipment on patients in their own home.
For the purposes of this week's workshop, the facilities in the room and technology provided by Eisai will be used to create an experience of what it would be like to have failing vision and hearing and restricted movement - all inevitable consequences of ageing.