Designing ergonomic toilets and bathrooms for older adults: A study on anthropometric dimensions and recommendations

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Özgün Başıbüyük G., Güler Z. Ö., Kılıç B., Yaylagül N. K., Ay F., Bekdaş O., ...More

Geriatric Nursing, vol.55, pp.263-269, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 55
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.11.017
  • Journal Name: Geriatric Nursing
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ASSIA, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, AgeLine, CINAHL, EMBASE
  • Page Numbers: pp.263-269
  • Keywords: Anthropometry, Design, Ergonomics, Older adults, Person-environment fit
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the ergonomic design of toilets and bathroom equipment for older adults using anthropometric measurements. Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected from 2,721 people aged ≥ 65 years in Turkey. Fourteen anthropometric measurements were evaluated. Body dimension characteristics were described using minimum, maximum, and arithmetic means and standard deviations and the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles. Results: The measurements showed that companies generally do not design bathroom toilet equipment that is suitable for older adults. Conclusion: This study provides advice to designers and manufacturers on how to adapt their products to the bathroom according to users' body characteristics in order to increase person-environment fit for older people.