Designing for the Life Span Segment 4
Designing for the Life Span Segment 4 
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Other problems plague this chair- similar to those presented in many forms of seating supposedly meant for the elderly...
All long duration seating- seating where the occupant may be resting or sitting for 3 hours or more- require a satisfactory spring and damping system of cushioned support in both the seat cushion support and the back rest. The chair pictured at the right has an inadequate spring base. While its deflection is high, the chair bottoms out- the materials stop extending and a dead spot occurs. This provides irritating discomfort to the seated occupant as the tissue on the buttocks scrubs against the ischeal tuberosities- the boney protuberances on the base of the hips supporting 60% of the body weight.
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Unfortunately, any manufacturer or distributor may refer to a chair as intended for older adults or as a "geriatric" chair. There are thousands of chair manufacturers - but very few who employ designers or seating and posture experts. Most chairs are copies of other chairs seen in or acquired from the marketplace. The chair in this slide is one such example. Found in a facility for the elderly, it is too low to the floor with armrests positioned in back of the leading edge. Egress from this chair for any adult is difficult and for an older person with moderate disability, extremely difficult or near impossible. Also note that American manufacturers use vinyl coverings rather than cloth to address incontinence issues. Scandinavian manufacturers utilize only cloth with a moisture barrier and impregnated with odor eliminating treatments.
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