Designing for the Life Span Segment 4

Slide 70 Content

Conclusions Related to Aging, Physiological Change and Seating:

Loss of strength, loss of flexibility and the onset of moderate disability usually related to arthritis are all normal age losses;
The comfortable chair as "control center" in the home - determined by the older adult resident - is a significant part of interior environment;
A chair "control center," as defined by Powell Lawton, is a station from which the older adult can observe his or her own environment, possibly the outside environment and provides the place from which activities are initiated and conducted;
Older adults sit for longer periods of time - but experience discomfort in seating faster than do younger adults;
Older adults require the use of arm rests - properly designed to egress from a chair;
The armrest design should extend beyond the leading edge of the seat in order to permit the chair occupant support to pull the center of gravity forward over the heels of the feet using the strength of the arms and legs to move away from the chair and stand upright;
Appropriate spring and cushioning designs, providing support without the sensation of bottoming out, must be utilized in chairs meant for long duration seating;

Physiological change over time and the response of seating include the following considerations...