Researchers develop furniture for the elderly
Czech and German researchers have developed a complete set of furniture aimed at making life easier for the elderly and infirm. As people get on in life, they start to suffer from reduced agility and mobility caused by conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. This can turn simple manoeuvres, such as getting in and out of bed and sitting down on a sofa, into daunting physical tasks. Although consumers have a greater choice of furniture these days, much of it is far from elderly-friendly. SPECIFURN, a EUREKA funded project, sought to address this gap in the market by designing a range of furniture that takes into account the limited movements of elderly people. 'There is a lot to consider when designing furniture for senior citizens,' says SPECIFURN coordinator Josef Bartak of the company Form, in the Czech Republic. 'We had to closely consider the special needs of seniors, particularly their reduced mobility, but also other differences compared to younger members of the population.' The researchers selected materials, including glass fibre and wood lamella, which are lightweight but strong and better suited to the SPECIFURN designs than conventional solid wood. 'The new designs are based on in-depth research and considerable accumulated experience among the partners,' says Mr Bartak. 'The result is a group of furniture with a unified and elegant look that is ideal for older people and people with reduced mobility and other particular needs.' Special features include better access to and visibility of stored items, rubber or elastic handholds on low furniture and wardrobes, ensuring maximum safety when moving as well as passive protection against possible falls. The furniture also has removable upholstery for easy cleaning, suitably shaped arm handles, and innovative mechanisms for changing furniture configuration. The furniture is fully compliant with both ergonomic and ecological requirements and is resistant to heavy use, says Mr Bartak. 'This new furniture is truly unique in terms of its coherent approach to a complex series of problems associated with the aged.'
Countries
Czechia, Germany