Liftchairs: An Important Safety Tool

While seniors are not the only group of people who often have mobility related problems, there are a number of diseases and conditions that are more common in the elderly. Many of these conditions, while not part of the natural aging process, can result in reduced mobility. This is especially true among those who suffer from several conditions, such as arthritis and glaucoma, which together can have a very major impact on the daily life of the senior.

The impact of these kinds of diseases and conditions manifests itself in many ways. For instance, it may not be possible to make out items on a menu clearly or to use the stairs safely.

One of the most common areas of life that these conditions affect is the ability to stand up without assistance. There are a number of ways that this issue is addressed, because not being able to stand up unassisted can greatly limit ones daily life.

One of the most common and comprehensive ways of allowing for complete independence when standing is to use a liftchair.

What is a Liftchair?

The liftchair has been used for over twenty years and is basically a special type of recliner, which is designed to make it easier to stand. An electric motor controls the entire chair, backrest and all, allowing the user to simply push a button and extend the footrest or recline the backrest.

However, this is not the only thing the electric motor does, as it is also responsible for raising the person using the chair safely to their feet. This is achieved by raising the entire frame of the chair and its occupant slowly into the air using a strong lifting system.

Important Liftchair Safety Features

One important feature of a quality liftchair, though, is that even when it is fully raised, it is possible to remain safely seated in the chair. This means that there is not a risk that the user will be dumped from the chair or at risk of a fall when it is fully raised. Instead, because of how the seat is angled, the user can remain seated or choose to safely exit the chair when it is fully raised.

Liftchairs also use a constant pressure system that will only raise the liftchair while someone is pushing the button. This means if the used to raise the liftchair is accidentally pushed, the liftchair will not raise. Instead, the button must be pushed and held for the liftchair to raise, preventing many accidents.

Controlling the Liftchair

Most liftchairs utilize a simple hand control to move the chair up and down, as well as operating the other components. The hand control is designed so that it can be used easily, even by those with limited vision. It usually only consists of a few buttons, which are large and spaced well apart from one another.

Some only have two buttons, while liftchairs with more features, such as heat and massage, might have a few extra buttons. In either case the hand control is very simple and easy to use. It is also attached to the liftchair using a small wire, so it can not be lost and will not require replacement batteries.

While the attached hand control is the most common, some liftchairs have the controls installed in the armrest or on the side of a chair, similar to the arm used to control a traditional recliner.