Product Design and Technology

Sam Griffiths

Mid - century Geriatric Chair

Tas Oak, leather, seatbelt webbing, foam, brass.

Independence is something cherished by the elderly, this feeling of independence can be impaired by having to sit in a specialised plastic geriatric lounge or use a walker to stand up. Biomechanically, rising from a chair is one of the toughest tasks and involves moving from a static, seated position through an unstable transition phase, to a ‘quasi-static’ (standing) position. (Blackler et al. 2018). Geriatric chairs are often used and subsequently associated with hospitals or aged care facilities and reflect the typically undesirable aesthetics. By combining the anthropometric requirements of geriatric chairs with more stylish mid 20th century design the chairs will be much more inviting for the elderly to use. While even being in an assisted living facility the chair can still act as a form of solace for its emotional connection to their childhood.