Senior-friendly home office design is growing in popularity since today's retirees are more active and tech-savvy. Many older adults return to the workforce or start new home businesses during 'retirement' years.
Others want a home office for computer work, to journal, read, research, or write their memoir. And everyone can use an office space to keep track of bills and important documents.
A senior-friendly office has many features of a traditional office in a home. Extra features for added convenience and accessibility are appreciated, and sometimes necessary so older adults can easily use the space. With this in mind, here's what you need to know to design a home office for seniors.
Choose the Best Office Location
When designing an age-friendly home office, it is crucial to consider the physical needs of the users. One of the most important considerations is to select a convenient office location. Ideally, it should be located on the first floor to eliminate the need to climb stairs, which can be difficult or even dangerous for those with balance, strength, vision, and mobility issues.
Other office location considerations include choosing an area that is quiet and well-lit. To minimize distractions, it should avoid high-traffic areas, such as the kitchen or living room. The space should also be comfortable and inviting, with plenty of natural light. Easy access to plenty of outlets for charging is an added bonus.
Find Alternative Office Spaces
If you don't have a dedicated room for a home office, there are still plenty of ways to create a senior-friendly workspace. With some creative thinking and the right furniture, you can easily create an ergonomic and comfortable office space in any living space of your home.
One option is to use a corner of the living room or bedroom as your office. This is how to find space for a home office.
Consider Comfort Features of the Office
It is also essential to consider heating and cooling in an office space for older adults. Seniors are more sensitive to temperature changes than younger people, so it is crucial to ensure the office is comfortable.
Consider installing a ceiling fan and a programmable thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the day. Of course, a blanket, sweater or portable fan can help too.
Maximize Natural Light
Natural light helps create a brighter office environment, which can positively impact mood and energy levels. And older eyes require more light , so more light is generally better unless it's creating glare on computer screens, walls and floors. Strategic placement of furniture and equipment and window treatments can minimize glare while maximizing the benefits of natural light.
Create an Accessible Work Area
Eliminate Clutter and Obstacles
To make it easier for seniors who use wheelchairs or walkers to access their home offices, think about how you can create an accessible floor plan. Ensure sufficient clearance around desks and furniture to move without bumping into objects. A standard wheelchair needs a radius of about 5 feet of open space to turn around.
Keep the floor clutter-free and pathways open to reduce trip hazards. Eliminate long cables hanging from monitors, extension cords, and other equipment that poses a tripping danger when placed too close to walkways or desk and chair areas where feet and cords could tangle. Use cable tie wraps or cable channels to keep cables organized and out of reach to avoid potential accidents.
Select Safe Flooring Options
Hardwood floors are a popular choice for home offices, but they create a more noisy environment than carpeted rooms. Often large area rugs are used for this reason. Just be sure that carpet edges are secured to avoid a trip hazard. Avoid small, lightweight throw rugs, which tend to slide easily and bunch up, increasing fall risk.
Low-pile, wall-to-wall carpet is safer for older adults. In an office, it's also helpful, so wheeled office chairs move with less effort compared to thick piled carpeting.
Choose Senior-Friendly Paint Colors and Decor
As we age, our eyesight declines, requiring increased contrast to see well. Choose higher contrast elements for the room rather than a monochromatic look. For example, select furniture that contrasts with wall colors, such as white paint for the walls and a darker wood finish for the desk and bookshelf instead of white walls with white-painted furniture.
This article further explores senior-friendly home decorating for more ideas and details.
Add Lighting
When designing a home office for seniors, proper lighting is essential. Natural light is the best option, but if it is not available, use artificial lighting to ensure that the office space is well-lit. This will help seniors see their work more clearly and reduce eye strain and injury risk.
Luckily, there are many great lighting options available for workspaces. Flexible, adjustable lamps are more convenient and can be configured as needed. Full-spectrum bulbs that mimic natural sunlight during work hours help to keep energy levels up throughout the day.
Select Adjustable and Accessible Office Furniture
Utilize Ergonomic Design
Ergonomics is an essential factor to consider when designing a senior-friendly home office. An ergonomic design focuses on providing comfort and support for the user while reducing the risk of injury or strain. This is especially important for seniors who may be more prone to physical discomfort due to age-related body changes.
Choose Flexible Furniture
When selecting office furniture for seniors, focus on adjustable pieces to accommodate individual needs. There are many accessible and flexible options available. However, it may require some research to find the best options for a particular room configuration.
Desks for Older Adults
When selecting a desk for seniors, look for one that's adjustable in height. This will allow for a suitable height for either sitting or standing, enhancing comfort and customization of the work area.
Additionally, look for desks with pull-out shelves or drawers so they can easily store items like paper, pens, and other office supplies. A keyboard drawer is another feature to improve desk ergonomics.
Office Chairs for Seniors
When designing a senior-friendly home office, the desk chair is the most critical piece of furniture. Choosing an ergonomic design to provide maximum comfort and support for long work hours is essential.
Ergonomic chairs are designed to reduce strain on the body and promote good posture. Generally, the more adaptable chair features, the better. Opt for models with adjustable seat height, armrests, and neckrest and backrest flexibility.
Height-adjustable office chairs with armrests can make it easier for older adults to sit down and stand up at their desks while reducing strain on joints and muscles. In addition, adjustable desks are available that can be raised or lowered depending on the height needed to fit the user's body type and preferences.
Other Ergonomic Office Accessories
Monitors
Height-adjustable computer monitors or monitor stands help maintain a neutral neck position especially when looking at screens over extended periods. Anti-glare screens protect eyesight and enhance visibility.
Keyboards and Mice
Similarly, ergonomically designed keyboards and mice are helpful as they provide superior support for wrists and arms compared with flat keyboards and traditional mouse designs. These reduce fatigue and joint pain caused by repetitive motions throughout the day.
Desk Chair Cushions
Consider a seat or back cushion for further customization of an office chair. Many support cushions are available to fit individual needs and preferences. This is the supportive seat cushion I use with my desk chair.
Footrests
Ergonomic footrests are a great accessory to customize seating further and support the feet and legs, helping to reduce strain on the back and neck. They can especially benefit people with shorter legs whose feet wouldn't touch the floor otherwise.
Storage Space and Organization
Even in this digital age, paperwork and clutter collect quickly so provide plenty of space for organization to keep office surfaces clutter-free.
Select drawers instead of cabinets when possible. Drawers are more manageable for older adults to access than cabinets. Drawers are also easier to organize and keep track of items, making it more straightforward for seniors to find what they need.
Organization is vital to creating a well-functioning senior-friendly home office. Consider adding shelves, drawers, and cabinets to store items like books, documents, and other office supplies. This will help keep the work area clutter-free and make it easier for seniors to find what they need quickly.
When selecting drawers, look for soft-close mechanisms that prevent slamming and make them easier to open and close. Choose D-shape cabinet handles for drawers and cabinet hardware instead of knobs which are more challenging to grip, especially for arthritic hands.
Keep frequently used office supplies and equipment near waist level. For higher cabinets, consider pull-down cabinet inserts to lower stored items to avoid excessive stretching or climbing on a stepstool to access supplies. Avoid low drawers and shelves that require excess bending, which may cause strain.
Senior-Friendly Home Office Conclusions
Creating a functional, comfortable, senior-friendly home office can be an enjoyable and straightforward task. With the right design strategies, furniture selection, thoughtful organization, and accessorizing, seniors can enjoy maximum comfort and productivity in their home office space. As the trend of active aging increases, offices will be a necessary part of every senior-friendly home.
A home office is a nice-to-have space, but certain home features are essential for retirement success. Discover whether your home has these critical features and if not, what you'll need to do to get them in the Retirement Independence Home Design Road Map.
