Things Seniors Want You to Know About Aging... And Why It Matters!
1. Many seniors perceive the wheelchair to be one appliance before the gurney.
While the wheelchair is designed for necessary movement, seniors dislike the stigma associated with its use. They want to maintain as much normalcy as they can.
2. Traditional chairs are not designed to move.
Traditional, four-legged dining chairs rely on friction (between the legs of the chair and the floor) to remain upright and stable. Thus, any force applied to move a chair (push/pull/shove/twist) with a seated person damages a chair’s structural integrity.
3. Cushioned flooring further increases resistance when attempting to move a seated person.
While cushioned flooring is credited with minimizing serious injury should a fall occur, indentations formed under each chair leg make it almost impossible for a caregiver to move a chair with someone sitting in it.
4. Seniors with limited mobility require help getting up-to and away-from the table.
The process of getting a person seated at a table involves a series of steps most people take for granted. For those with limited mobility, these steps often require assistance from others.
5. Today’s seniors are caring for seniors. In many homes, the person providing assistance is also a senior.
As such, they are at greater risk of incurring injury due to diminished physical strength and muscle coordination.
6. Safety guidelines indicate a person can safely lift no more than 35 lbs.
Any attempt to move a seated person of any size is unsafe and increases the risk of injuring oneself.
7. The ability for a couple to age in place depends on one spouse to remain fully mobile.
Dining chairs which reduce the physical demands of the caring spouse prolong the couple’s ability to age-in-place.