Guide to buying senior living furniture in 2025

If you are in the process of selecting senior seating for a nursing home project, then choosing the right furniture is not only about the comfort and safety of the users, but also affects the functionality and aesthetics of the entire space. In today's era of increasing focus on the needs of an aging society, age-appropriate furniture has become an important part of improving the quality of nursing home services. As a distributor, understanding the characteristics of seating, design points and material choices from the perspective of an older person can help you provide more professional advice to your customers, ensuring they choose products that meet their functional needs and are cost-effective.

The key to what seniors care about

The increase in the ageing population and the prevalence of chronic diseases have led to a rising demand for long-term care services. While many families also care for older people with chronic conditions at home, many older people end up choosing or being placed in nursing homes due to a lack of resources, reduced sociability and increased care needs. Research has shown that older people are more dependent on nursing homes, that their medical needs are more complex, and that the quality of care often determines their satisfaction with nursing homes. Staff and premises play a key role in providing high quality care that meets the physical and mental needs of older people. Therefore, older people's perceptions of nursing homes depend not only on the professionalism and humanity of the care provided, but also on the sophistication of the facilities. Together, these factors influence and shape older people's overall experience of and satisfaction with nursing home life.

Each person's living environment is individually furnished according to personal interests and preferences. When living in a nursing home, there is inevitably an emptiness and comparison in the heart. How can we make the environment of a nursing home as warm as a home? This requires some age-friendly design of ‘senior living furniture’.

Furniture Size

Nowadays, many families will be customised furniture for the elderly, the biggest benefit of customised furniture is that it can be designed according to the habits and height of the elderly, and it is more comfortable to use.

So the design of the purchased furniture size should be in line with the height of the elderly, the space in the interior and the cabinet placed to leave a gap, but also to design a good distance. Not too narrow, easy to bump. And indoor switches, sockets are also needed to match the height of the furniture. Some furniture can not be too high, otherwise it is inconvenient to use.

Stability  

The solidity of furniture determines the safety of use and service life, especially furniture that is often moved, solidity and load-bearing capacity must be considered. Unstable furniture can pose a serious safety hazard to the elderly. For the elderly who move slowly or need the support of furniture, wobbly or loose furniture may lead to an unstable centre of gravity, increasing the risk of falling and even causing serious injuries such as broken bones. In addition, unstable furniture is easily damaged or suddenly loses its load-bearing capacity during long-term use, which brings psychological uneasiness to the elderly and reduces their willingness to move around in the space. Therefore, the stability of furniture not only affects its service life, but also has a direct bearing on the safety and quality of life of the elderly.

Safety

Choosing furniture with no sharp corners and rounded design is especially important for the elderly, which not only effectively reduces the risk of bumps and bruises, but also gives them a greater sense of security psychologically. Round or oval furniture provides a friendlier living environment with its gentle, smooth design. Its unique shape not only eliminates the threat posed by sharp edges and corners, but also conveys an atmosphere of inclusiveness, harmony and stability through a soft visual sensation, thus easing the anxiety of the elderly and enhancing the experience of using it. Round furniture is not only a design choice, but also reflects a deep concern for the details of elderly life.

Environmental friendliness

People to the elderly, physical fitness and resistance will decline, physical health has become the main concern of the elderly life. Therefore, in the choice of materials, pay special attention to environmental protection. When choosing furniture, the first thing to look at the environmental performance of the material, as far as possible, choose brand-name products as well as level above the material, however, most of the elderly more like wood, bamboo, rattan and other natural materials. Furniture made of such materials are generally lighter, reflecting a simple leisure, cool and elegant modelling characteristics. And affordable and relatively lightweight, easy to pick up or move, is also loved by many elderly people.

The importance of good seating

Even if a nursing home environment is wonderfully designed, without comfortable and functional seating furniture it still won't provide a good experience for the users. Unergonomic seating can lead to physical fatigue, awkward furniture increases mobility barriers for seniors, and may even pose a safety hazard. Only furniture that balances comfort and functionality can truly improve the quality of life for seniors, bringing them a pleasurable physical and mental experience and safety.

Provides Postural Support

When increasing the surface area of a chair in contact with the body, it can be effective in reducing the concentration of pressure at one point. This can be achieved by optimising the dimensions of the seat, such as seat height, depth and width, as well as the height and angle of the footrest. Typically, a single seat has a seat surface width of 40 cm, which is close to the distance the human body travels from the soles of the feet to the knee joints. Proper sizing not only improves the comfort of the seat, but also provides better support for the user.

Use The Right Cushion

Seat depth, i.e. the distance from the front edge of the seat to the rear edge, is a key factor in seat design. If the seat depth is too deep, the user may have to lean forward and hunch over, otherwise the back of the legs will feel uncomfortable due to pressure, which may even affect blood circulation and cause tendon spasms. If the depth is too shallow, the seat may not be comfortable to use due to insufficient weight distribution area.

In addition, proper seat height is crucial. The ideal height ensures that the thighs are level, the calves are vertical and the feet are naturally flat on the floor. Seat heights that are too high can cause legs to dangle, which can compress blood vessels in the thighs, while seat heights that are too low can cause fatigue. These factors are directly related to the comfort of the seat and the science of ergonomic design.

Armrest Design

The design of chairs with armrests should give full consideration to the natural placement of human arms and comfort. The size of the inner width of the armrests is usually based on the human shoulder width plus an appropriate margin, generally not less than 460 mm, and should not be too wide, in order to ensure that the natural hanging arm posture can be easily adapted.

The height of the handrail is equally critical. A handrail that is too high will strain the shoulder muscles, while one that is too low will result in an unnatural sitting posture and even cause discomfort from hunching over. Ideally, armrests should be designed so that they can take half the weight of the arm, with the shoulder taking the rest of the strain. Typically, a suitable armrest height for adults is 22 cm (about 8-3/4 inches) above the effective seat height, while the distance between the arms should be at least 49 cm (about 19-1/4 inches) to ensure comfort. For larger people, an appropriate increase in armrest spacing would be more appropriate.

Social phenomena and choices

Many older people do not want to admit that they are ageing and therefore have a greater desire to maintain autonomy in the use of their furniture. This mentality makes them favour furniture that is simple in design, easy to use and hides assistive functions, which not only meets their practical needs, but also protects their self-esteem. Furniture for senior living design is therefore more focused on the combination of invisible functionality and aesthetics, so that the elderly can still feel confident and comfortable while receiving assistance, thus enhancing their living experience. In addition, this design reduces the burden on caregivers and improves efficiency.

To meet this need, senior living furniture manufacturers Yumeya has launched its latest range of elderly care products. Featuring lightweight and durable furniture that is load-bearing and easy to clean, these furniture pieces are designed to make caregiving less difficult. At the same time, the use of metal wood grain technology gives the furniture a wood grain-like visual effect and tactile feel, which not only fulfils the practicality, but also enhances the overall aesthetics and quality of the elderly care project. Through these products, we hope to bring more convenience and care to senior living projects, so that the elderly can enjoy a more comfortable and considerate living experience.

M+ Mars 1687 Seating

Effortlessly transform a single chair into a 3-seater sofa with modular cushions. KD design ensures flexibility, cost efficiency, and style consistency.

Holly 5760 Seating

A nursing home chair with a backrest handle, optional castors, and a hidden crutch holder, combining convenience with aesthetics for elderly users.

Madina 1708 Seating

Metal wood grain chair with a swivel base for effortless movement. Elegant design meets functionality for senior living spaces.

Chatspin 5742 Seating

180° swivel chair with ergonomic support, memory foam, and long-lasting comfort. Ideal for senior living. 

Palace 5744 Seating

Lift-up cushions and removable covers for easy cleaning and hygiene. Designed for seamless maintenance in retirement furniture.

If you are interested in our products, please feel free to contact us, we promise 10 years frame warranty, 500lbs load capacity, and a professional sales team to match you.