Choosing the right furniture for the elderly is a very important process. When you’re setting up any kind of senior living facility, furniture requires careful consideration. You don’t only need to make sure that the material complies with health regulations, but you also need to provide comfort. Furniture is one of the elements that play a significant role in the daily life of seniors. It can make a huge difference in their quality of life, so making an informed decision is key. To make that process a bit easier, today we will explore the 7 essential factors you must consider.
7 Factors to Consider When Choosing Furniture for the Elderly
1. Height
When it comes to furniture for seniors, getting the right height for seats and tables is essential. Seat height is particularly important because the elderly struggle with sitting down and getting up. When the seats are too low, getting up or sitting down can cause more strain on their bodies. The ideal height for care homes, nursing homes, retirement homes, etc., is 16.1 to 20.8 inches. Having a range of seats will accommodate seniors of different abilities and functional movement. When it comes to tables, the standard height of 29.9 inches will work well for most seniors. However, wheelchair users will require a little more height, so the ideal for them is 32 inches.
2. Material and Upholstery
Furniture for the elderly should be made of sturdy material that’s as low maintenance as possible. Ideally, upholstery must be comfortable, easy to clean, and also look good. Vinyl and treated fabrics are the best options. Additionally, the material of the furniture pieces should comply with healthcare laws. For example, Yumeya Furniture is specifically designed for healthcare and commercial use, so the products are long-lasting and prevent microbial growth. Yumeya Furniture leverages an innovative metal wood grain material for all furniture for the elderly. This special material has the texture of wood on a surface metal, so it doesn’t only look amazing, it’s also made to last. Moreover, the pieces are coated with Dou™-Powder Coat Technology, which is a powder coat that’s water-resistant and anti-bacterial.
3. Comfort
Comfort is easily one of the most essential elements to keep in mind when browsing for furniture for your care home, nursing home, assisted living facility, etc. The impact of comfortable furniture can’t be understated. It will reduce joint pain and stiffness, improve circulation, reduce the risk of falls, and overall improve their quality of life. Comfortable furniture even has a mental effect on seniors.
For example, it can help reduce stress and anxiety by providing relaxation. This can also improve their mood, which leads to a bigger inclination to socialize. Additionally, comfortable furniture makes it easier for elderly people to perform everyday activities. Including sitting, standing up, eating, and sleeping. This contributes to their sense of independence and it can even boost their self-esteem.
4. Ergonomics
As you can imagine, ergonomics is an extremely important factor when choosing furniture for the elderly. Especially when it comes to chairs! If your senior residents will spend large chunks of the day sitting down, their chairs need to have ergonomic designs. The most important elements for seniors are proper seat height, armrests, backrests, and seat width. Ergonomic chairs are designed with the human body in mind, so they offer support in all the right places. That’s what you need to look for in chairs for elderly people. Yuyema Furniture offers a variety of chairs for different purposes, all made with comfort and ergonomics in mind.
5. Stability
Another factor that’s important to keep in mind is stability because it will provide comfort and safety. The last thing you want is for your care, nursing or retirement home to be known for accidental falls. When choosing your furniture for the elderly, especially chairs and tables, you need to make sure they’re stable. These furniture pieces shouldn’t be able to inadvertently tip over. Especially not when seniors are putting their weight on the armrests to stand up or the backrest to find more comfort. Choose furniture with skid bottoms or sled frames, which provide additional stability and prevent tilting.
6. Functionality
Functionality should be one of the top priorities when looking at furniture for seniors. As mentioned above, the material you choose needs to be supportive, durable, and sturdy. Choosing the wrong material means that seniors won’t be able to use the furniture for support whenever they need to. This defeats the main purpose of the furniture. So, when you’re looking at designs and furniture pieces, keep functionality at the forefront of your mind. Glass materials, designs with sharp edges, low seats, low tables, etc., will not serve elderly people well. Fortunately, Yumeya Furniture offers fully functional chairs, seats, and stools for any area in your facility for seniors. With this, you’ll be able to create comfortable spaces for seniors to enjoy.
7. Cleanability
Last but not least, your furniture for the elderly needs to be easy to clean. We mentioned this when discussing materials, but it requires its own section. When you’re running a care home, assisted living facility, retirement home, or care home, cleanliness is essential to everyday life. However dedicated your staff is to maintain a tidy and pleasant environment, making it easier for them will be much appreciated. To prioritize cleanability, we recommend choosing furniture pieces that prevent the accumulation of dirt, dust, etc., as well as pieces with easy-to-clean fabrics. Stain-resistant, waterproof, and durable fabrics are also a must. For pieces such as tables, we recommend materials that can withstand heavy use, don’t scratch easily, and won’t fade with repeated cleaning.
Final Words on Furniture for the Elderly
At the end of the day, finding the right furniture for the elderly is not so difficult when you know what to look for. If you need help furnishing your facility to provide seniors with the utmost comfort, browse Yumeya Furniture to find the best armchairs, love seats, and more!
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