{"id":2439,"date":"2018-11-09T09:13:47","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T14:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/?p=2439"},"modified":"2018-12-19T08:41:56","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T13:41:56","slug":"making-senior-citizen-friendly-restaurants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/09\/making-senior-citizen-friendly-restaurants\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Make Your Restaurant Senior Citizen Friendly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a senior citizen friendly restaurant could improve your business. Older adults are an important demographic for restaurants<\/strong> for several reasons. First, the percentage of the population that is over age 65 is projected to more than double<\/strong> in the next 50 years. And older adults often have more disposable income<\/strong> and free time to eat out. A recent Cornell University study<\/strong><\/a> found that seniors eat out more than their millennial counterparts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So how can restaurants appeal to an older demographic without compromising their main mission? With just a few small tweaks, you might just find yourself a whole new fan base<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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1. Menus<\/h2>\n

One of the easiest things restaurants can do is\u00a0increase the size of the font on their menus<\/strong> to 13pt or greater. As we age, our vision changes significantly, making it more difficult to read small text. Also, avoid fancy, cursive-type fonts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In addition, our color vision also changes as we age. As a result, restaurants should avoid using blue or green text on menus<\/strong>. These are the colors that the eye loses (or blurs) most quickly as it ages. Text in these colors can look blurry or fuzzy to some seniors. Black text on a gold or yellow background provides the best contrast without glare.<\/p>\n

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2. Lighting<\/h2>\n

Another thing restaurants could do to is to increase the lighting in their restaurants<\/strong>…none of that mood lighting! As we mentioned, older adults may have vision problems. And lower light makes it difficult to read menus and increases the risk of falls.<\/p>\n

\"Dim
Dim lighting in restaurants may photograph well, but they present visual issues for elderly patrons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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3. Waiting Areas<\/h2>\n

If your restaurant has really busy times, you should make sure to have plenty of available seating in the waiting area<\/strong>. In fact, you might even consider designating one or two seats for seniors or disabled individuals<\/strong>. The younger generation isn’t always interested in giving up their seat for an older adult. So providing some signage that reserves seats for those who need it most could win you some fans among older adults.<\/p>\n

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4. Carpet\/Rugs<\/h2>\n

We can’t stress enough that seniors often suffer from vision reduction or visual issues. And having highly patterned carpet or flooring is very difficult for a senior to navigate<\/strong> as they can’t get their visual bearings. In fact, they may discern a step\/stair where there is none, or think the walking surface is uneven. The last thing you want is for an older adult to experience a fall in your restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"Carpet\"
Highly patterned or dark carpet is hazardous for seniors to navigate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many restaurants in cold or wet climates will use “runners” on their carpets to protect them. As a restaurant owner, you need to be vigilant about the placement and upkeep of these runners. Seniors may have difficulty seeing the edges<\/strong> or may not lift their feet as high<\/strong> as younger adults. This can also lead to falls if runners are not secured or an edge causes a senior to trip.<\/p>\n

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5. Tabletop Items<\/h2>\n

The items you use on your table top can make a huge difference for seniors. Brands like Oneida<\/strong> have sharpened their focus on their tabletop offerings to account for the needs of older adults. Tabletop items include the flatware, glassware, and china<\/strong> used to serve your guests. A few simple considerations can make all the difference for your older guests. For example, plates that feature a border or different color rim can assist older customers in dining.<\/p>\n

China<\/h3>\n

Subtle visual cues such as color and a border can aid residents in their dining<\/strong>. Color can make the food more attractive and make it easier to distinguish if the food contrasts with the color of the plate. This is helpful to those struggling with depth perception issues.<\/p>\n

Certain Oneida dinnerware patterns also include a push point<\/strong> which is a flatter ridge on the edge of the plate to help older customers to ladle food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Perimeter<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured: Perimeter China<\/h4>\n