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The furniture industry is faced with a noteworthy fact. The U.S. population is aging.
Today, there are more than 46 million adults age 65 and older living in the USA. According to the census bureau, this is driven by the aging of Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964. Roughly 10,000 baby boomers are reaching retirement age every day. No other age group has witnessed such a rapid increase.
This has expanded the demand for modern senior living communities and exceptional care services.
A QUALITY OF LIFE
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A growing senior population has dramatically changed the modern senior housing landscape. Increased life expectancy and improved health have led sophisticated seniors to pursue communities that align and support their active and engaging lifestyle vision.
As a critical part of excellent health maintenance, high quality, upscale retirement communities focus on design and architecture that encompass socialization, connections, and independence. This includes beautifully designed community spaces offering singular and interactive group settings. Bright, uncluttered surroundings have instant appeal and are further enhanced by new technologies that bring convenience and efficiency. The overall physical space and attention to detail contribute to an exceptional senior living experience.
The design strategy for these communities has shifted from traditional to a more savvy, modern style. This is driven largely by the design aesthetic of a senior population looking for an identity parallel to their own. Already captured by unique design the comfort and familiarity of “home” feeds into authenticity of personal space.
Effects of Aging as it Impacts Seating
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It is important to recognize health factors that increase senior needs in seating. Although today’s modern seniors maintain an active lifestyle, according to the MAYO Clinic, the normal aging process typically promotes gradual physical changes that can affect coordination, stability and balance.
As we age, unavoidable loss of muscular strength, endurance and flexibility impact the ease of maneuvering. Commonly, bones become more susceptible to fracture. Hearing loss can impede communications. Visual impairment can reduce the ability to perform daily tasks.
Many of these age-related changes can be addressed with functional, thoughtful chair design
in creating a safe and positive environment.
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Ergonomics
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Ergonomically engineered seating promotes a sitting posture that allows proper alignment of the shoulders, hips, and spine. It is designed to facilitate comfort and support while reducing many of the risks associated with muscular problems, joint-pain and back issues. With a focus on the senior population, attributes that support these issues can improve the quality of life. There is no need to sacrifice beautiful, modern chair design while optimizing this level of comfort and stability.
Consider the following ergonomic elements:
Seat height and depth is critical for lumbar, overall back support, as well as ingress and egress. Correct posture and comfort are dependent upon the dimensions and angles that enable optimal alignment of back and legs.
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Pitch refers to the proper angle for comfort while not allowing the body to fall too deeply into the chair.
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Chair Height refers to overall height of the chair and can impact shoulder, neck and back support.
Arm rests are built to support full body weight and leverage for movement or chair-rise performance, maintaining stability while rising.
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Stability is achieved with proper methods of construction.
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Construction essential to durability and sustainability are use of solid hard woods, fitted corner blocks, reinforced arms, stretcher.
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Socialization
Daily social events within a community such as dining, relaxing, gaming, reading and visiting require the comfort and stability of quality furniture.
Socialization reduces a likelihood that seniors will experience the depression caused by isolation and loneliness. Being with others reduces levels of anxiety as well, promoting greater
self-esteem and self-worth. Lives are affirmed while interacting and engaging in common activities, thus maintaining a positive outlook.
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Impact of furniture on luxury senior living
While an attractive, insightful design concept may be the ultimate selling point in choosing a senior living home, there is a critical balance to be considered. Style, function and safety play vital roles in achieving long term comfort and well-being. Creative storage of walkers, canes and personal belongings reduces chaos and promotes safe navigation. Maintaining an independent lifestyle within the community requires thoughtful innovative design.
Greater sophistication and design knowledge of today’s modern seniors has transformed the senior living lifestyle. Their high expectations of a new, reimagined living environment has influenced and raised the bar on a more luxurious home away from home experience.
Furniture manufacturers are challenged to address the functional aspect of their products in a more creative and attractive way. Furniture must perform with contract-like quality while delivering styles that emulate today’s modern design preferences.
Attributes that make a difference
While the most basic definition of a chair, according to Merriam Webster, is “a seat for one person that has a back and usually four legs,” the function of a chair is to help one find and sustain posture.
Seating for the physical side of aging demands proper lumbar and pelvic support resulting in back muscles being less stressed, thus providing better posture, better breathing, and less fatigue.
High quality structural and functional attributes can define the comfort and durability of seating for a senior population.
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Upholstery:
It is important to work with a manufacturer who understands the specific seating needs of the senior community, using quality spring or webbing and proper cushion foam/filling density for comfort and resilience. Removable cushions and components for ease of re-upholstery as well as systems for hygienic service can greatly extend the life of seating.
Casters:
A chair with casters can improve functional mobility, especially for those with weak upper body strength. This attribute may alleviate the need to repeatedly stand up and sit down to accomplish a task, eliminating the necessity to reposition the chair.
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Technology:
The use of technology has become a prevalent part of the modern senior lifestyle. In addition to frequent use of laptops, listening devices, smart phones, and iPads, furniture providing integrated technology for charging those devices is a major convenience. Another enhancement offered in the realm of technology is LED lighting. Beyond its decorative aspect, LED specifically adapted for furniture use can offer safety, security and assistance as a soft-glow night light or base/floor lighting.
Privacy:
While socialization within the community is a central aspect of the senior lifestyle experience, higher back wingchair and armchair seating options can offer both singular and group interactions within public areas. The comfort and security of being amongst others while enjoying the calming effect of security and privacy in a solitary moment is relaxing.
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CONCLUSION
Modern architecture and design greatly impact the environment of today’s savvy senior-lifestyle community. Health, happiness and overall comfort address the essential underlying needs, while identity to the space accounts for a sense of home and belonging to the community. While exercising a dignified choice of where and how to continue an active, independent lifestyle, transformative furniture innovations and quality workmanship will enhance the experience of a personal, creative space. Importantly, well-furnished, modern community surroundings promote positive connections and meaningful quality of life.
Working with a manufacturer that is innovative while being design and quality driven will help to ensure your success with furniture for senior communities.
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