노인용 소파 개발을 위한 분석 연구

A Study on Analyzing Needs on Sofa of the Aged

This study is to analyzing needs on sofa of the aged through identifying the demanded trend and examining physical discomfort experienced by whom had used them. The subjects were 103 people aged 60 and over who had visited a welfare center in Seoul. Data were collected by a questionnaire, and analyzed using x² -test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. As a result of the study, about 43% of subjects were using the sofa for 5 hours or more, and 82% were using sofa to watch TV. For the most important part of the sofa, 70% answered seating comfort, and 48% demanded increasing in height of a backseat whose head could be reclined. As for price, 74% thought that 1 million won or less was appropriate, and about 75%, showed that the period of use of sofa should be less than 15 years. It was perceived beneficial when it relieves the muscular tension on the knee joint, hip joint, and lower back. Subjects mostly complained the firmlessness of the cushion and discomfort of the depth of the floor cushion. On the basis of this study, design of sofa for the aged, the height of the backrest, the seating comfort, the firmness and durability of the cushion, price should be considered.