Seoul City Publishes Sofa and Bed Guidebook for Senior Safety Considerations

Safe Furniture Design Within the 'Home' Proposed
Bed and Sofa Made Applying Guidebook Installed on a Trial Basis at 11 Senior Support Housing Sites and 2 Dementia Relief Centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] For elderly people who spend most of their day indoors, furniture such as sofas and beds play an important role in providing a comfortable daily life. However, furniture that does not consider the physical characteristics of the elderly can sometimes pose safety risks. Common causes include sharp furniture corners and slippery materials that lead to falls. In fact, 6 out of 10 elderly safety accidents occur 'inside the home,' accounting for the largest proportion.

Seoul City announced on the 29th that it has developed and published a 'Universal Design Furniture Guidebook' to proactively eliminate such potential hazards. The guidebook carefully considers the physical characteristics of the elderly and presents designs for 'beds' and 'sofas,' which are the most frequently used furniture by seniors, to ensure universal safety and convenience.

For sofas, making the seat height such that the elderly's knees (popliteal height) can touch the floor when seated can help prevent falls. For beds, it is suggested to install multipurpose handrails that assist with various activities such as lying down, sitting, and standing up, as well as shelves within reach to place frequently used items.

All furniture corners are designed to be rounded to minimize impact from collisions, and protruding parts of furniture components are minimized to prevent tripping hazards. The guidebook recommends height, depth, and width dimensions that reduce physical strain during furniture design.

Furniture designers, manufacturers, and sellers can refer to this guidebook to create furniture for the elderly, while general consumers can use it to inspect their current furniture or select new pieces. It is produced in a convenient 'checklist' format that anyone can easily use.

Seoul City aims to promote a safe living environment inside homes?where elderly people spend the most time and where accidents occur most frequently?to prevent accidents and further support independent living, especially as the city is expected to enter a super-aged society (20% of the population aged 65 or older) by 2025, with a rapid increase in single-person elderly households.

The Universal Design Furniture Guidebook for the Elderly was developed with the participation and cooperation of single-person elderly households living in ‘Senior Support Housing,’ a public rental housing tailored for the elderly introduced for the first time nationwide by Seoul City. The guidebook is broadly composed of sections on furniture for the elderly and basic principles, detailed designs by furniture type, selecting furniture for the elderly, and checklists for dining tables, desks, and chairs.

The 'Furniture for the Elderly' section contains content to enhance understanding of physical changes due to aging and changes in furniture usage patterns. The 'Basic Principles' section introduces design principles necessary for safe furniture, such as eliminating potential hazards, using safe materials, and supporting independent living.

Seoul City has produced actual furniture applying the guidebook’s content and installed it on a trial basis in 11 single-person Senior Support Housing units and 2 Dementia Relief Centers, allowing any citizen to experience it. The guidebook will be updated based on feedback and evaluations from elderly users.

Lee Hye-young, Director of Seoul City’s Design Policy Division, said, “The Universal Design Furniture Guidebook for the Elderly was developed from the awareness that although the number of single-person elderly households is increasing, there has been insufficient consideration for the home environment where elderly people spend the most time and where accidents occur most frequently. We hope that based on this guidebook, products with more diverse functions and forms will be developed so that elderly people can enjoy a safe and convenient life at home.”