Designing for the Life Span Segment 4
Designing for the Life Span Segment 4 
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[D]
Extending the armrest out beyond the leading edge of the seat cushion is essential in designing seating for the elderly. Both gentlemen pictured below have endured strokes leaving then "hemiplegic" or partially paralyzed on one side of their body. Even with this disability, they are able to rise from the surface of this experimental chair with extended armrests.
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The most appropriate response to the problem of egress (and entrance as well) is extension of the armrests by design forward of the leading edge of the chair. This change in chair design permits the older adult to pull his or her weight forward to position the center of gravity of the body over the feet and to rise. The extended armrests also provide tactile location of the chair when someone approaches and turns to enter the chair.
In this slide a testing prototype is pictured and demonstrated by one gentleman who has low leg strength and another who has suffered a stroke and is moderately disabled on the left side of his body. Both men were able to successfully egress the chair unassisted.
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