Furniture must be more than simply attractive. Here are some additional safety suggestions:
- Table legs should be sturdy and straight. They should not stick out beyond the table edge.
- Pedestal and drop leaf tables can tip if someone leans on them for support. Avoid using them if at all possible.
- Low coffee tables (12 inches high) are easily tripped over because they are below the line of sight of a standing person. A table 18 to 24 inches high is better.
- Nightstands or end tables should be 2 to 3 inches higher than the mattress, never lower. The table should be large enough to hold necessary supplies (eyeglasses, lamp, reading material, telephone).
- Beds should be sturdy, with a headboard and footboard 12 inches taller than the mattress to offer support and leverage. They should be smooth and easy to grip. A footboard will also keep extra blankets off the floor.
- A bed should be 16 to 17 inches high or even with the wheelchair seat.
- To raise a bed, drill holes or recessed areas in heavy wooden blocks (2 inches by 4 inches or 4 inches by 4 inches). Place blocks under legs of the bed.
- To lower a bed, cut off the legs or use a 4-inch-dense foam mattress instead of an inner spring mattress.
From: Life-Cycle Housing: Furnishing a User-Friendly Home, by Wilma S. Hammett, Professor Emeritus, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University. Used with permission.
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