Environments for Aging - Winter 2017 - 17

Bariatric seniors may be prescribed specific
exercise regimens by their doctors and facilities may offer access to a certified fitness
specialist or specialized physical therapist,
requiring settings and exercise equipment
that can support 300-500 pounds or more.
Excess weight can strain joints, so chair
and aquatic exercises are recommended.
Exercise rooms should have ample space
between equipment (48-inch minimum), a
5-foot-wide walkway, and a 72-inch wheelchair turnaround. Since bariatric individuals
can overheat easily, adequate ventilation is
critical. Aquatic facilities require additional
structural support for the concrete, weight of
the water, and bariatric occupants; adequate
spacing around the pool; and a bariatric lift
or 42-inch-wide access ramp.

Challenges
Introducing additional support structures,
safety features, and specialized furnishings
and room designs for bariatric residents
doesn't come without challenges, beginning

with the extra building expenses compared
to traditional senior living settings. A ppropriate bariatric furniture and specialized
equipment can cost three times more than
standard items. However, the extra space
and support are necessary to provide a high
quality of care and life to bariatric residents.
These measures also improve work conditions for caregivers and make good business
sense since the price of bariatric equipment
can be far less than the costs facilities can
incur in workers' compensation claims, sick
days, and staff retention related to injuries
arising from assisting in the movement of
bariatric residents.
According to the Rand Corp., a nonprofit
institution that provides research and analysis,
if obesity rates continue to increase, there
will be a greater number of adults dealing
with health challenges, functional mobility
limitations, and chronic illnesses. A continued
and sustained increase in disability related to
obesity would result in an increase in the need
for assisted living or skilled nursing communi-

ties of 10-25 percent, according to research
by economist Darius Lakdawalla published
in the journal Medical Care. Just as senior
living communities have developed specialized programs for dementia, unique programs
and environments will be essential to meet the
needs of bariatric residents. EFA
Meldrena Chapin is a design research consultant
at The Design Consultancy (Atlanta). She can
be reached at meldrena@meldrenachapin.com.
Kathryn Rutledge is an interior designer at IIG
Design (Weston, Fla.). She can be reached at
krutle20@student.scad.edu.

Learn more at the EFA Expo

The authors will share more on bariatric
design for senior living communities in the
session "Design to Support the Bariatric
Aging Client" at the Environments for Aging
Expo & Conference, Feb. 26-March 1, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
For more information, go to Environmentsfor
Aging.com.

Winter 2017 * EFAmagazine.com

17
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Environments for Aging - Winter 2017

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