A sick, injured, or older adult may have limited strength and energy. Even getting up and sitting down can be difficult. For them, furniture must have both good support and good leverage. These requirements ensure their independence and safety. Always have the user try out chairs, sofas, and beds before purchasing to be sure that they are right for his or her body.

Side Chair

The chair seat should be as high as the length of the lower leg (14 to 18 inches) and as deep as the length of the upper leg (15 to 18 inches). When a person is seated, both feet should be flat on the floor. A chair that is too high or too deep puts pressure on the thighs, causing aching legs, circulatory problems, and numbness. A chair that is too low can cause lower back pain. It also makes getting up awkward and difficult. The seat front should be gently curved so that there is no pressure behind the knees. This, too, prevents circulation problems. There should be 2 to 3 inches of space between the seat front and the seated person's thigh. The cushion should be firm and resilient.

Easy Chair

For relaxing, a person needs a chair that will help him or her sit somewhat upright. This avoids compressing internal organs and helps with proper circulation. For easy chairs to be comfortable, the seat depth should be no more than 10 inches or as deep as the length of the user's upper leg. The front to back seat slant should be 1 1/2 inches. The chair back incline should be about 5 inches, and there should be support for the lower back. Finally, the seat height at the front should be 13 1/2 to 15 inches.

Chair arms provide comfort and leverage in getting in and out of the chair. The person's arms should lie naturally and relaxed on the chair arms. Arm rests that are too high strain the shoulders. If they are too low or not forward enough, they do not allow for leverage. The user will have to lean over too much and could easily lose his or her balance.

Rockers and recliners may not be a good choice. A person who has to use the chair arms to stand up needs steady support. Recliners with a rocking mechanism in the base may be less hazardous than a rocker as a person could trip over the protruding rockers. Recliners with an electronic button are best for an elderly person or a person with a disability who has reduced arm strength.

Existing chairs can be improved with some inexpensive adjustments.

• An ottoman or footstool 12 inches or so in height can be used for relaxing.
• Blocks or boards could be used under the legs to raise the height of a low chair. Drill holes or grooves in the blocks so that the chair won't flip.
• Replace an overly soft cushion with a firm one. Put a board under the cushion itself.
• Add a seat cushion if the armrests are too high or a back cushion if the seat is too deep.

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.