Designing for the Life Span Segment 4
Designing for the Life Span Segment 4 
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[D]
Scandinavian design has produced many functional responses to seating for the elderly. Among them is the example pictured below with its sculpted armrests for easier grasp, the "wing" supporting resting and sleeping and the adjustable chair leg that permits a greater range of smaller- and taller- users of the chair.
Since the end of the second world war, the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Finland have produced a range of furnishings that is very functional- human centered.
National health programs and governmentally supported design grants have permitted this exploration and general level of excellence in both product design and in the design of housing for the elderly.
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Scandinavian designers and manufacturers have experimented with chair design specifically intended for use by older adults for decades - and have produced very successful results. In this slide a single position lounge chair shows an accommodation for resting and sleeping and arm rests that extend, somewhat, beyond the leading edge with a sculptured termination for hand positioning. Also of significance is the simple leg sleeve with two positions for changing the height of the seat platform from the floor. The smallest chair occupant may require a 16 inch seat platform height at the leading edge. The taller chair occupant can require that height to be 19 inches.
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