Furniture Castors Increasing in Popularity Among the Aged Community

March 14, 2013

Ross Castors

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According to the Parliament.co.uk, there are 10 million elderly individuals in the UK, ages 65 and older. This number is expected to increase dramatically, by 9 million, by the year 2050 because medical science is allowing more and more individuals to live longer, healthier lives. If you own and operate a business that deals with products such as furniture, you may be missing out on a wide array of customers who are searching for furniture that suits their needs, while increasing their independence.

The Needs of the Elderly

For most seniors, the design of their home is often more important than any other aspect of senior living. Safe, comfortable environments, complete with the right type of furniture, give seniors the support they need to live in their homes independently for a longer period of time.

How can you meet these needs? By addressing the six characteristics of ageing:

Loss of strength

Loss of balance

Cognitive impairment

Visual impairment

Increased sensitivity to cold and sunlight

Hearing impairment

While no product addresses all of these characteristics, there is one that can assist with several of them: castors.

Furniture Castors and the Elderly

These days, furniture castors are becoming very popular with the elderly, and there’s good reason for it. Casters address two of the six main characteristics of ageing:

Loss of Strength- Elderly individuals lead full lives, just like everyone else. When they need a piece of furniture moved, they generally don’t want to have to wait on someone else to find the time to do it; this dramatically increases their independence on others. Casters placed on furniture can allow them to easily move furniture out of the way, even if they are not very strong or are suffering from diseases such as arthritis. Castors can also be added to dining chairs to assist residents when they need to pull up to the table; however, because one of the characteristics of ageing is a loss of balance, these swivelling wheels should only be places on the front legs of dining chairs, so the elderly can still maintain their balance when they are holding onto them.

Increased Sensitivity to Cold and Sunlight- Many seniors are sensitive to cold, sunlight, and drafts. For this reason, many may enjoy sitting in certain areas of their homes at specific times, but not others. For instance, an elderly woman may enjoy sitting near a window and watching birds at the feeder in the late evening, but may choose other areas of the home to sit the rest of the day in order to avoid the direct sunlight through the window. If the senior has a specific chair that must be used, such as one that reclines forward to assist them in lifting out of the chair, finding a suitable area in the home to sit at any time of the day can be difficult. When casters are placed on the chair though, this problem becomes obsolete. The chair can be moved, with very little effort, anywhere in the home it is needed.

Furniture casters can make a world of difference in the life of the elderly, and are becoming more and more popular. These small, but powerful swivelling wheels can increase a senior’s independence and happiness in life!