Are dining armchairs that have slightly shorter arm lengths (that enable the person to sit into the table), safe for older adults in a retirement home?

Posted Le 29 novembre 2023

I am chairing a not for profit cooperative board that is building an affordable Community Care residence in western PEI.  Community care is the step before long term care.  No nursing services, just some assistance with daily living, meds, bathing etc as needed.  We are striving to be as non-instittuional as possible and are working with a very tight budget.  We have ordered regular height dining tables and a number of armless sturdy dining chairs.  We wanted to order some arm chairs.  The ones we were looking at initially had arms that ended flush with the seat.  Knowing that residents will use the arms to push themselves up, would slightly shorter arms create a balance/stability issue?  If yes, what would be some other adaptations to enable a resident to be able to get in close to the table, with an arm chair?  Also, is there a recommended width between legs at the baes, for maximum stability?  i seem to recall there was a researcher in BC looking at this years ago.....