Lift Chairs: A Guide to What to Look For

Elderly people, especially those with arthritis, often find that they are unable to stand without assistance. This can present a number of problems, especially in situations where a persons spouse is no longer able to stand on their own, as this puts a great deal of strain on them and can increase the risk that both people will fall. To allow for individual standing and improve overall safety, lift chairs are one of the more common lifting aids.

A Basic Introduction to Lift Chairs

Lift chairs are in a lot of ways very similar to recliners, especially in regards to the way they look. For instance, both lift chairs and recliners offer a foot rest that can be retracted when not in use, as well as a backrest that reclines. However, unlike most of the recliners you see, a lift chair is powered electronically, with everything from the backrest to the footrest being controlled by the push of a button. This makes them much easier to use than your average recliner, as instead of having to fiddle with a lever and then have the back of the chair raise up each time you reposition yourself, the back of a lift chair can be reclined to the perfect position for sleeping, reading, or watching television by simply using a single finger.

However, while the easy configuration and use of a lift chair does make it very attractive, its main role is to make it easier to stand and sit without assistance. This is achieved through the use of a strong lifting motor that raises the frame of the lift recliner slowly into the air. While being raised, the occupant can remain comfortably seated and even when it is at its peak, it is possible to stay seated in the chair, so there is no fear of simply being dumped out of the lift recliner. Once fully raised the person using the chair can then exit on their feet, with much less strain than if they had attempted to do it on their own.

Understanding Lift Chair Positions

There are quite a few different types of lift chairs available, but the three position lift chair is probably the most common choice. 3-position lift chairs can recline almost completely horizontally, allowing for a comfortable place to not only watch TV, Read, or Eat, but also sleep.

Two Position Lift Chairs are less common and are usually the least expensive option, because the backrest can not recline as far as that of a three position lift recliner. Instead, a 2-position lift chair can only recline about 45 Degrees. This position is often referred to as the TV Recline Position, because it is well suited for watching TV, but not as good for those who wish to be able to sleep in their recliner.

Infinite position lift chairs are on the opposite side of the spectrum of a 2-position lift chair and usually recline a little bit further than a 3-position lift chair. However, what really sets the infinite position lift chair apart is that the footrest and backrest can be controlled separately. In the two other types of lift chairs, when you press the back button, the foot rest extends and the backrest reclines. However, with an infinite position lift chair, you can adjust the back, without adjusting the footrest and vice-versus. Infinite Position Lift Chairs do end up being the most expensive option though.

It is important to keep in mind, when considering lift chairs positions, that the phrase “Three Position” or “Two Position” does not mean the chair can only achieve one or two positions, but instead only refers to how far back the lift chair can recline. As a result, a two position lift recliner is not limited to only two positions, but only by how far back the backrest can go.

Lift recliners are a great tool for making the home safer and can allow those with diseases like arthritis to continue living an independent life.