Choosing the Right Lift Recliner

For a senior, there are many tasks that can become more difficult with age. Often, this difficulty is due to a number of diseases, such as arthritis, which are more likely to be found in the elderly. The effects of these types of diseases can greatly hinder mobility and often result in the senior having difficulty with everyday tasks.

One of the most common tasks for a senior to have trouble completing is that of standing up and sitting down independently. One way to address this difficulty is to use a lift chair.

What is a Lift Recliner?

The lift chair is a medical device that has been used for almost thirty years and is designed to make it possible for a senior or other individual with limited mobility to stand up without assistance or increasing the risk of a fall.

The lift chair is often called a lift recliner or lifting recliner, as they look very similar to a recliner and also offer a number of similar features, such as a reclining backrest and footrest. However, liftchairs provide a great deal more than simply a comfortable place to sit. This is because of a strong lifting component that is located in the base of the chair and raises the liftchairs frame and its occupant to a safe standing position.

The electric motor that controls the liftchairs lifting component also controls the chairs backrest and footrest, so finding a comfortable position is very literally done with the push of a button.

Popular Lift Chair Manufacturers

There are many lift chair manufacturers, but Golden Technologies and Pride Mobility are the two most well known manufactures, both having been involved in the liftchair industry since the middle of the eighties.

Golden Lift Chairs and Pride Lift C hairs are well known for their quality and are backed by a very comprehensive warranty, which often consists of a lifetime liftchair frame warranty. Both Golden Lift Chairs and Pride Lift Chairs are available in a great number of sizes and styles, with many different fabrics to choose from.

Finding the Right Lift Chair

Finding the right lift recliner is an important decision and should not just take style and design into account. Instead, it is essential that the lift recliner fits the needs and requirements of the person. These chairs have a height and weight rating, which are both very important.

The weight capacity is important, as it is the safe weight that the electric motor can support and should never be exceeded. Usually it is recommended to always allow at least an extra 20% padding when considering the weight of the liftchair user.

The height rating is also very important, because this is determined by how high the lift chair raises into the air. Not adhering to the height rating can be very dangerous.

It is also important to make sure the other dimensions, such as seat width and seat depth are sufficient and comfortable for the user. Many people like to measure their existing recliner, so they can have a basis to compare the liftchair measurements to.