Senior living chair：A Practical Guide for Commercial Furniture Dealers to Overcome 2025 Aged Care Challenges
As 2025 approaches, aged care organisations in various countries are facing multiple challenges of tighter regulations, staff shortages and high care needs, especially in Australia where the implementation of the Aged Care Act has further increased the pressure. However, the accelerating global ageing is also creating huge opportunities for the aged care furniture market. The rapidly growing demand for furniture in nursing homes, convalescent homes and other aged care settings requires a combination of comfort, functionality, environmental friendliness and easy-to-clean design that far exceeds that of the traditional home furnishings market. At the same time, elderly care organisations are also dealing with the pressures of recruitment, training and regulatory reforms, with an urgent need for safe and quality care services, providing new opportunities for furniture innovation. Furniture distributors need to find an entry point in the midst of the challenges and opportunities, and provide efficient solutions for organisations to help improve the quality of care and operational efficiency. This is the focus of our discussion today.
Home-like environment: meeting the psychological needs of the elderly while ensuring quality of care
More and more elderly people are looking for a home-like care environment in nursing homes rather than cold institutionalised care. This shift in psychological needs places higher demands on nursing home buyers: they must ensure that the furniture is comfortable and functional while at the same time taking into account the psychological needs of the elderly. Many older people, after moving into a nursing home, are faced with the fallout and are prone to feelings of loneliness, loss, and even anxiety about changes in their living environment.
A warm and welcoming environment is crucial to improving the mental health and overall quality of life of the elderly. It not only makes seniors feel at home, but also enhances the satisfaction of family members and helps newly admitted seniors adapt to their new environment more quickly. Furniture design for nursing homes should not only focus on practicality, but also help older people relieve psychological stress and enhance their sense of belonging through warm colour schemes, soft line designs and spatial layouts that are close to a family atmosphere.
- Avoid furniture with a clinical-like appearance. Choose styles that are similar to residential furniture while maintaining durability.
- Choose designs that are appropriate for people with dementia. Patterns should be simple and easy to understand. Avoid high contrast or complex designs that may confuse residents.
- Use colour strategically. Colour can define different spaces and help residents understand their environment.
However, how to meet these needs while balancing labour cost control and regulatory requirements remains a major challenge for nursing home buyers. Therefore, furniture dealers need to start with the pain points of nursing homes and provide practical solutions in order to win senior living projects.
Functional design that prioritises safety
In the design of furniture for nursing homes, safety is the most central consideration. The safety of furniture is particularly important as the physical functions of the elderly decline with age, especially those with mobility problems. By preventing falls, providing solid support and avoiding potential hazards in design, the risk of accidents can be effectively reduced, thus improving the quality of life of the elderly.
- Chairs with sturdy armrests:Armrests can be designed to provide support for older people, helping them to sit and stand with greater ease and reducing the risk of falls.
- Highly supportive seat cushion:The seat cushion is made of high-density material to provide firm support, preventing the elderly from sinking too low when sitting down and making it easier to get up.
- Open base design:The base adopts an open structure for easy cleaning and hygiene management to ensure environmental hygiene standards.
- Wheelchair-friendly table and dining chairs:the table is designed to be suitable for wheelchair access and the dining chairs can be easily slid in, making it convenient for older people with mobility problems.
- Rounded edges and shallow seat panels:Furniture avoids sharp edges and overly deep seat panel designs to prevent discomfort or falls and ensure safety.
These design details not only support the physical abilities of the elderly, but also improve the efficiency of caregivers and provide a safer, more comfortable living environment in nursing homes.
Choose high quality fabrics for hygiene and durability
Fabrics used in elderly care furniture must be able to withstand daily wear and tear and frequent cleaning. Caregivers need to sanitise and clean the surfaces of the furniture on a daily basis to ensure a hygienic environment and the health of the elderly. Therefore, fabrics must not only be highly durable, but also retain their texture and functionality after many washes. Choosing fabrics that are stain-resistant, waterproof and easy to clean not only reduces maintenance, but also improves the hygiene standard of the living environment.
Commercial grade fabrics (such as vinyl or high quality textiles) are designed to withstand wear and tear and are available in a wide range of colour and texture options. Bright colours are recommended as lighter and brighter colours create a relaxing, positive atmosphere and are particularly beneficial for older people with visual impairments. In addition, the use of different colours in specific areas can also help older people with memory aids.
Often made from synthetic blends of polyester and nylon, these fabrics are extremely durable, meeting or exceeding the industry standard of 30,000 bi-directional rubs (as defined by the Wyzenbeek rating), with some fabrics withstanding up to 150,000 bi-directional rubs. In addition to durability, they are often specially treated to resist liquids, stains and flame retardancy, ensuring aesthetics without sacrificing quality and functionality. Such fabric choices meet the practical needs of nursing homes while providing a safe and comfortable living environment for the elderly.
Fabric Essentials:
- Waterproof and antimicrobial to prevent bacterial growth.
- Smooth, non-porous surfaces that are easy to clean (avoid flannel fabrics that tend to hide dirt).
- Flame retardant material to meet safety requirements.
Polyester fabrics: polyester fibres are known for their excellent resistance to abrasion and stains and can easily cope with daily wear and tear and frequent cleaning. Such as sofas and chairs, it is ideal for nursing home furniture.
High-density nylon fabric: nylon fabric stands out for its high strength, durability and tear resistance, making it one of the preferred materials for senior care furniture. Not only can it withstand long-term use, but it can also withstand repeated washing, making it ideal for the high-demand environment of nursing homes.
Synthetic leather: Synthetic leather has the look and feel of leather, but is more durable and easier to clean. Its seamless design avoids dirt build-up and is particularly suited to aged care environments, where it is both aesthetically pleasing and practical, meeting both the hygiene and comfort requirements of nursing homes.
Sustainable and eco-friendly materials: saving costs and protecting the environment
With the rise of green lifestyles, nursing homes are increasingly focusing on furniture made from eco-friendly and natural materials. This not only helps to minimise the impact on the environment, but also enhances the physical and mental well-being of older people. For people with dementia, pro-natural and eco-friendly materials can provide sensory stimulation through texture and feel, evoking familiar memories, relieving anxiety and enhancing psychological comfort. Eco-friendly materials not only reduce the release of harmful substances, but also improve the durability of furniture, ensuring seniors live in a safe and healthy environment.
- Recycled frame materials
Whether it is steel, stainless steel or aluminium, recyclable materials are used, which not only reduces the reliance on wood, but also reduces the frequency of furniture replacement, thus effectively reducing resource consumption. Aluminium is easy to form, with 6063 and 6061 being the common aluminium alloy models, with most products using 6063, which has an international standard hardness of 10° to 12°. Aluminium also mimics the appearance of wood, combining the durability of metal with the warmth of wood, making it both beautiful and practical.
- Plywood
Plywood is both an environmentally friendly and practical material with recyclable and biodegradable properties that can be easily reused or disposed of after use, reducing the impact on the environment. At the same time, plywood is lightweight and easy to transport, thus reducing carbon emissions during transport. It is made from multiple layers of thin wood slices pressed in alternating layers to provide high strength and stability, and is widely used in furniture manufacturing. Hardwoods (e.g. birch, walnut) are usually used for the outer layers, while softwoods (e.g. pine) are used for the inner layers and glued together with glues such as phenolic resins to ensure durability and resistance to bending. Compared with traditional wood, plywood has better resistance to warping, is suitable for load-bearing furniture, and is easy to process and transport. According to industry standards, quality plywood can withstand over 5,000 bending tests without cracking or warping.
Yumeya's new design
Acquiring senior living furniture requires expertise and solutions. As a distributor, partnering with an experienced senior living furniture supplier ensures that the product meets the unique needs of nursing home residents and caregivers, while enjoying one-stop-shop support from design to after-sales.Yumeya specialises in efficient furniture solutions for commercial environments, and in 2025 is launching a new line of senior living furniture that incorporates our innovative Elder Ease concept to provide a comfortable experience for seniors through functional design to provide a comfortable experience for the elderly and reduce the burden of care. Choose Yumeya to help you stand out in the senior care market.
This is a dining chair that is based on the needs of nursing homes, bringing convenience to the elderly as well as nursing home staff. The chair has a handle on the backrest and can also be equipped with castors for easy mobility, even when the elderly are sitting on it. One of the most important innovations is that the armrests are designed with a hidden crutch holder, gently move out the clasp to place the crutches steadily, solving the problem of crutches nowhere, avoiding the trouble of the elderly frequently bending over or reaching out. After use, just retract the bracket to the handrail, which does not affect the aesthetics and maintains the functionality. This design fully reflects the meticulous care for the convenience and quality of life of the elderly.
The metal wood grain chair, first of all, uses an innovative design in its appearance, with a rounded square backrest and a special tubular shape that creates a different design for the space. At the same time, in order to meet the real needs of the elderly, we use a swivel at the bottom of the chair, so that a small organ can give the elderly a great help. When the old people finish eating or want to move around, they only need to rotate the chair to the left or right, no longer need to push the chair backward, which greatly facilitates the old people's movement and use. Available in a variety of styles.
Caregivers often struggle with cleaning seat seams, but the innovative Yumeya lift-up cushion function simplifies maintenance with one-step cleaning, leaving no gaps untouched. The removable and replaceable covers eliminate concerns about food residues and stains, keeping you prepared for emergencies. Made with metal wood grain technology, these products combine the durability of metal with the natural look and feel of wood. Lighter and easier to move than traditional solid wood furniture, they help maintain a flexible, tidy environment. The all-welded design reduces bacterial and viral risks, ensuring a safer, more hygienic space for the elderly.
Come and visit our factory to explore more of our senior living furniture products and experience their benefits for yourself! With over 25 years of industry experience, our products are crafted with the needs of seniors in mind, ensuring ease of use, ease of maintenance, and innovative features that improve daily life. What's more, our professional sales team is always ready to provide you with personalised solutions, putting dealers in their place with a flexible and sales marketing policies. Please feel free to contact us!
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