Caretakers at the Shanghai No. 2 Senior Home are learning what life is like for elderly people with bad eyesight, limited hearing, and stiff joints, so that they can provide better service.

The nursing home has bought a set of equipment, including faulty eye glasses and ear plugs, that allow caretakers to experience what life is like for an 80-year-old. "We want to put ourselves in senior people's shoes," said the home's Director Lu Meiling. The equipment includes a pair of sun glasses, ear plugs, gloves, knee pads and a cane. It was imported from Japan at a cost of 12,000 yuan (US$1,485).

The glasses are blurry, the ear plugs impair hearing, the knee pads and joints are rigid, making it difficult to kneel down or pick things up. 
"Only the old know their own bodies," said Lu. "Our caretakers have to really understand the seniors' needs to serve them better."

Two caretakers have tried out the equipment so far. Zhao Yunnian, one of the caretakers, said that wearing the costume made life very difficult.

"The big headlines on newspaper looked fuzzy, and I couldn't balance on my two feet. Someone was talking right beside me, but I couldn't hear him at all." 

After the experience, Zhao said she would be able to provide better service.

The city currently has 38,700 caretakers for the old, and all will be required to try out the costume in the near future, said Shen Yanqiao, spokesperson for the Shanghai Social Welfare Department. More equipment to help in the lessons will be imported soon.