Things like staffing ratios, inspection reports and location are all top of mind when looking for a care home.
But what about the furniture?
Easy chairs at dining tables rarely cross your mind when touring facilities. But they should. Here’s why…
The chairs and tables residents use daily, and how they’re arranged impacts wellbeing, independence, and dignity. Meals are the biggest example of where this matters. Done well, furniture facilitates a better dining experience. Done poorly, care residents pay the price.
Let’s dive into how dining chairs impact care home life.
What you’ll learn…
- Why Furniture Deserves Your Attention
- Care Home Dining Chairs Matter for Resident Wellbeing
- Importance of Mobility + Supportive Design
- Designing for Dignity
- Care Home Dining Chair Selection Tips
Why Furniture Deserves Your Attention
Demand for UK care homes is only going to increase. There are already over 400,000 older people living in residential care homes, with estimates suggesting that number will rise by close to 36% come 2035 (Age UK).
Creating a safe environment that supports quality of life has never been more important. Or under more pressure.
And that pressure falls on care home interior design.
Well thought out nursing home furniture helps spaces feel homely and supportive. Clashing colours and poorly fitting furniture does the opposite. Care home dining chairs are a microcosm of this. Used several times a day by residents who rely on them to eat with comfort, connect with others safely and maintain independence.
Not trivial at all.
Care Home Dining Chairs Matter For Resident Wellbeing
Here’s a fun fact most people don’t know…
Meal times are often the highlight of a care home residents’ day. It’s a key time for socialising. Something that’s vital for keeping both mind and body healthy.
But how residents are able to interact with one another at mealtimes is critical. Research discovered that care home residents spent just 13.4% of their time engaged with other people with some attempts at interaction going completely unanswered. Reasons for this included poorly designed dining furniture limiting visibility between residents.
Imagine sitting at a dining table unable to see a dinner partner.
Unsettling, right? Now imagine how that feels as an everyday reality.
A badly angled chair. A table too tall for comfortable conversation. Seating forcing residents to sit at odds with the person next to them. It all amounts to one thing.
Care home dining chairs dictate the level of social interaction residents have. From seat height to seating layout. If getting together to eat is going to be a negative experience, dining furniture is the biggest reason why.
Importance of Mobility + Supportive Design
Most care homes place appearance before ability.
Then wonder why their chairs look great in the brochure but are useless in practice.
Simply sitting down and then back up again can be a challenge for residents with limited mobility. Arthritis, weak core strength and age-related conditions can make eating lunch or dinner an experience some residents want to avoid.
That’s not dignified care home living.
Because they’re used so frequently throughout the day, care home dining chairs have to work harder than standard furniture. Design choices that support resident posture, mobility and stability are non-negotiable.
Features to look out for include:
- Seat height – Dining chairs that are too low force residents to rise from their seat by awkwardly lifting their bodies with their legs. Ideally, chairs should be height adjustable but with enough leg clearance to allow feet to rest flat on the floor with knees at 90 degrees when seated.
- Armrests – Allows residents something to hold onto when sitting down or standing back up. Fixed armrests that extend further forward than the seat edge are ideal.
- Back support – Similar to arm supports, a tall back rest helps residents maintain correct posture and reduces tiredness from sitting for long periods.
- Stability – Chairs with four legs in a wide formation are far less likely to tip when a resident tries to stand up. Important when fall prevention is paramount.
- Cleanability – Vinyl seats and easy clean frames aren’t a luxury. They’re a necessity. Care homes need furniture that can be wiped down thoroughly with minimal effort.
Small design changes that prioritise mobility can dramatically improve the dining experience for residents.
Designing for Dignity
Designing for dignity isn’t just about care staff and how they support residents.
A Care Quality Commission inspection programme called Dignity in Care surveyed 500 care homes and found one in six were not always respecting the dignity of their residents nor consulting with them on care decisions.
That’s not a reassuring stat. But care home furniture plays a part in tackling it.
Cheap-looking dining chairs that are hard to use or contribute to a resident’s inability to dine with their friends can make residents feel like they don’t belong. Like the chair’s only there on loan.
But it works both ways.
Well-designed chairs that have been chosen with the residents’ best interests in mind empowers them. Not only do nicer chairs support better posture and mobility, they can make a resident feel genuinely cared for.
Just like everyone should.
What To Look For When Choosing Care Home Dining Chairs
Thankfully there are more options than ever when it comes to choosing care home dining chairs. Modern furniture manufacturers recognise the need to create chairs that are kind on the eye without compromising on clinical value.
Here are a few things to bear in mind when selecting care home dining chairs:
- Does the chair support residents with limited mobility or arthritis?
- Are armrests positioned correctly to allow residents to safely lower themselves into the seat?
- Is the seat height appropriate for the tables the chairs will be sitting at?
- Can the upholstery be cleaned to required infection control standards?
- Does the chair fit with the rest of the interior design? Remember – care home furniture shouldn’t feel clinical.
Don’t forget about layout.
Studies into dining environments in senior living facilities found that residents prefer rectangular tables. Simple reasons like rectangular tables being able to be easily joined together for larger groups helped earn them this preference.
Matching the right chair with table layout can allow residents to interact with each other in meaningful ways.
Summary
What furniture care homes select has a huge impact on:
- Mobility – Dining chairs should allow residents to sit down and stand up safely without risking injury.
- Socialisation – The dining environment should support residents being able to speak and see one another. Not create extra obstacles.
- Dignity – From seat comfort to ability to use surrounding facilities. Dining chairs can help make residents feel at home.
Furniture shouldn’t be an afterthought when picking the perfect care home. Instead, viewing chairs, tables and sofas as part of the overall experience provided to residents makes all the difference. Get it right and residents will certainly notice.
