Smart Senior

You can not be totally independent if you can’t get into or
out of your chair without calling for help.  
You spend a lot of quality time curled up in your favorite easy chair, which means that it is a pretty
important piece of furniture.  Assess your furniture today.  Don’t wait
until you get stuck and end up spending the night in the living room because
you can’t get up.  It shouldn’t be too
much of a stretch to figure out when it is time to update or replace your living room furniture.

Quite often, what was a good
fit when you were younger is not such a good fit now.  Remember those days?  There was a time when you could sleep on the
floor or plop into a beanbag chair without giving it a second thought.   However, you may find that older sofas and
chairs are now too deep, too low, and too hard to get out of.  I am in the market for a new living room set
myself, and hard as it is to admit, I am going to have about what I am going to
need in a few years.  It is time to take
some measurements and think about furniture pieces that will grow old along
with us.  We all need to make sure that
our furniture is working for us instead of against us.

A good rule of thumb:  If your knees are higher than your hips when
you are seated, you are going to have a hard time standing up.  Fortunately, Universal Design furniture can be attractive and stylish while
providing support for the lower back and will help you sit tall.  Explore some of the new furniture designs
that have ergonomic features.

What are some ergonomic
guidelines for chairs?

• The seat should be 18 inches high and the
  cushion depth should range from 19-23 inches.  If a chair is too deep, it is hard to
  sit in and even harder to get up from.
• Arms that facilitate easy transfers.  Chairs with side arms at a height of
  about 25 inches. The arms should extend to the front of the chair for
  support when trying to stand up.  
  If they are much higher you can’t use the side arms to push off
  from.
• A back that has a slight incline for
  relaxation.  A high back is good if
  you want support for shoulders, neck and head.
• A tube or roll pillow is handy for good lumbar
  support.
• An open space beneath the chair to allow you to
  tuck your feet underneath for leverage when pushing to a standing
  position.

What about
revitalizing your current sofa or
chairs?  If you find that you can’t bear
to part with your living room furniture, you will want to consider giving them
a makeover.  Over time cushions tend to
lose plumpness and support.  Soft
cushions do not give your spine enough support.   Soft cushions do not create a stable
transfer surface.  If your cushions need
revitalizing or replacing, find local upholstery specialists to do the job for
you.

What about buying a recliner?  Reclining chairs
are very popular.  Nearly everyone has
one for those special times when they want to feel truly relaxed.  They are especially good if you have lower
back problems or need to elevate your feet. 
You can find recliners that come with heat and massage units, or even
zero gravity chairs that can elevate your legs above the level of your
heart.  You can even find models with
push buttons lifts for those who need an extra boost after getting a little too
comfortable.  If you are going to splurge
on one new piece of furniture a recliner would be a good choice.

Remember that no matter what
the cost, ergonomically designed furniture is important if you want to be able
to manage on your own.