TrajeMax Reflection 

Imagine being able to put on a suit that can make you feel, perhaps how your grandparents feel. Would you try it? Well, I did. The #TrajeMax is a suit built based on 200 scientific studies based on medicine, gerontology, and psychology (Evidence-Based Design), by the University of Chemnitz, at the initiative of AutoUni, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group Research. 

You can program the level of deterioration based on the colors. We know that not everyone who ages is not the same. Therefore, the suit is meant to mimic the diversity of aging from an array of difficulties. 

When I tried this suit on, I was impressed by the weight that I felt on myself. It was harder immediately for me to do certain activities that I could do, but it would cost me more energy. 

The first notable difference I observed was the pain I felt in my feet. I would rather sit down than walk. This took me back to moments when I would walk with my grandmother or other senior residents. I remember always striving to walk at their speed and not mine. Nowadays, I walk much slower to enjoy the world around me. This is not the case for every older adult, but it helps build your empathy and patience when you work with an older person who might have difficulty walking or walks slower than you. 

I was then shocked to see my visual view impaired. I could not see certain things in my field vision. For example, when I was trying to eat, I did not see the plate until I backed away from the table. Again, we take our visual view for granted, but someone who has dementia might not be able to articulate this, and we must figure out what could be the problem. We cannot just assume people see what we see but ask and understand if they can or cannot see. 

When I was walking down the stairs, I noticed how rigid I was. What moved me profoundly was when I was trying to go up the stairs. Although I could do it holding onto the rail, it took me more to focus. It was easier for me to climb the stairs. I cried a bit when I climbed the stairs, as this reminded me of my grandmother. After my grandmother got into a car accident, she would always climb the stairs as it was easier for her. Moreso, it made her feel safe like I felt safer climbing the stairs. Many people would sometimes not understand why she was doing this because they are able-bodied and did not feel the pain. We must understand that just because certain activities are done in a specific way does not mean doing them another way is wrong.

Another difference was the limitation of my motion. I could no longer move as easily as before from my arms and neck. Again, two other areas that may change as one ages. We must consider how someone has limited motion and might be unable to lift their arms. 

For the first time, I think this suit should be required in training courses to help build empathy and memory on working with someone else. Role-playing occurs at times, but trying TrajeMax may trigger more emotional and muscle memory to ensure one is being empathic when they care for an older person. 

I believe this can help further train employees within the care system and in a way appreciate what one is able to do now as later on, we might lose certain functions. In conjunction with lectures and practicals. I believe sometimes human beings claim they understand something, but if they experience it, I think they have a better understanding. Therefore, this suit should be utilized in conjunction with lectures and demonstrations to prepare better the next generation of care staff and continual training. 

Thank you Stephan for the opportunity to learn from you! Gracias Stephan!