Improving Life Quality of the Elderly — Development of Functional Clothing,Anthropometric Investigation

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide anthropometric characteristics of elderly women and to prepare data which will be used to develop tables of clothing dimensions for this group of women, with regard to the specific features of their body shape and body proportions.

Measurements of elderly women were taken at Social Welfare Centres, Society for Geriatric Assistance and University of Third Age. Up to the present they have embraced 142 women aged 60 to 81.

It has been proved that elderly women are characterized by a specific body construction. In comparison with younger women they are shorter, heavier and have significantly bigger trunk circumferences (circumferences of chest, waist and hips). For this reason majority of elderly women would not find for themselves appropriate clothes from among those made according to standard dimensions.

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