How To Select the Right Lift Chair

There are a number of factors that can lead a senior to have difficulty finding and selecting the right lift chair. Most often, however, it is not due to the physical requirements of the user, nor is style or design a factor, as there are many different types of lift chairs.

Lift chairs have a much shorter history than a number of other types of home medical equipment and were first developed during the 1980′s. Since then, the underlying concept of the lift chair remains the same, which is to make it easier for people to stand and sit. In fact, from the outwards appearance, lift recliners also remain very similar and closely resemble a traditional recliner.

This could easily lead one to believe that they haven’t changed much since they were first invented, but this is not the case. Instead, the lift chairs used today offer a much more advanced and safer lifting system, in stark contrast to the first lift chairs developed, which used a spring lift system.

When used properly, a lift chair can make standing much easier, as well as allowing the senior to sit in a safe manner.

Height and Weight Requirements

When selecting a lift chair, one of the first and most important steps is ensuring the lift chair is adequate to support the user. It is essential that the lift chair is capable of supporting not only the weight of the user, but also the height. The height rating of a lift chair is of particular importance, because this figure is determined by how high the lift chair can be raised. A lift chair designed for a taller individual, therefore, will raise higher than one designed for a shorter person.

When considering the weight capacity of a lift recliner, it is a good idea to ensure that there is some room for growth as well and that the person’s weight is evaluated subjectively.

Bariatric lift chairs

Aside from weight and height considerations, much of the lift chair section process comes down to personal preference. There are a number of designs available, so it is seldom a problem to find a color or style that you like. A number of fabric upgrades are also usually available, which are easier to clean and have improved breathability.

Pride Lift Chairs and Golden Lift Chairs are some of the most popular types of lift chairs, which are manufactured by Pride Mobility and Golden Technologies respectively.

Lift Chair Positions

While there is a great deal of choice when it comes to lift chairs, it is important to understand how they are classified.

Three position lift chairs are designed to recline to a near horizontal position. Two Position Lift Chairs recline only about 45 degrees, which is about half of a 3 position chair.

Infinite Position Lift Chairs are able to recline slightly further than a 3 position lift chair and also allow the footrest and backrest to be controlled separately.

From a cost perspective, two position lift chairs are usually least expensive, followed by three position lift chairs. Infinite Position lift chairs are usually the most expensive type of lift chair.

Hopefully, by better understanding how lift recliners work, selecting the right lift chair will become much easier.