Student impressions

• It was much harder than I imagined. I never thought that simple actions like standing and sitting would be so difficult for the elderly. I could barely see the text, and I could hardly see the screen of my cell phone at all. My perception of the elderly has changed. It was only after experiencing it myself that I realized that even everyday actions can be dangerous for the elderly.
• I had imagined that I would struggle with physical aspects such as back pain and difficulty walking, but I also struggled greatly with sensory aspects, such as having a narrowed and blurry field of vision and not being able to hear people speaking to me. I currently have no physical limitations, so I have always viewed elderly people with the same perspective as someone without such limitations, but this experience of being disabled has changed my perspective. From now on, I will proactively try to help elderly people whenever I see them.
• I tried buying a drink from a vending machine, but I couldn't even pick up the coins, let alone identify the different types. I had to ask my assistant for help before I finally figured it out. Everything took a long time. It was frustrating not being able to do things that others take for granted. In the future, I want to pay more attention to my surroundings and be more helpful to elderly people.
• The first thing I realized after experiencing what it's like to be elderly was how much less mobile I actually am. Especially when wearing the goggles, my field of vision was so limited that even sitting down in a chair felt scary. Also, when I went to a vending machine to buy a drink, it took me so long to get the change out of my wallet that I worried about inconveniencing people waiting behind me. I believe we need to create a society where the elderly and many other people can live their daily lives with peace of mind. Furthermore, I think it will become even more important for each of us to help one another in order to achieve such a society.
• I had heard elderly people say things like "it's hard to walk" or "I can't hear well" on several occasions, but I didn't think it was such a big obstacle. This experience has completely changed that. The stairs that we normally climb without thinking were terrifying, and because of the poor visibility, I tripped over even small steps. I now understand a little more about the difficulties faced by the elderly and how to support them, so if I see someone in need, I want to use what I learned today to help them.