Selecting a Lift Chair to Improve Mobility

Age is not something that can be staved off by potions or magic elixirs, but instead is a normal part of life. As we grow older, we age, and the body changes, so rather than try to fight this natural process, it is important to find ways of making life easier as we age.

Often, however, there are some diseases, like arthritis, which are more common among the elderly and make the entire aging process much more difficult. This can have a number of ramifications, but often results in an elderly person having a great deal of trouble standing on their own. One way to help address this issue of standing and sitting is to use a lift chair.

Lift Chairs and Arthritis

One of the key characteristics of many types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis is that the joints can become stiff after having been seated for awhile. As a result, getting out of a sitting chair after watching an hour long program can prove very painful and difficult for many seniors. The lift chair is a very important tool that is used and relied upon for many seniors with arthritis and others who suffer from similar mobility related disorders.

What do Lift Chairs Look Like?

Often, you will hear lift chairs called lift recliners or lift seats, with these terms being, to some degree, interchangeable. In many regards, the standard lift recliner looks a great deal like a traditional Lazy-Boy-Recliner, offering a very comfortable place to relax and watch TV. The average lift chair offers a backrest that recliners, as well as a footrest, both of which are controlled electronically.

What Makes Lift Chairs Special?

In addition to simply being easier to use, with a simple push of the button being enough to fully recline the chair, lift chairs are also an important type of home medical equipment. This is because a lifting system installed in the lift chair is provided to raise the person using the lift chair to their feet. This is achieved by raising the entire lift chair frame, with the person remaining seated as the unit rises.

Once the lift chair has completely risen, exiting it is possible in a standing position. However, the seat is left at an angle, so even when raised, it is possible to remain safely in the lift chair.

Selecting the Right Lift Recliner

Today, lift chairs come in a vast array of different colors, styles, fabrics, and designs. There are some models that offer special features, such as fold out trays or hidden armrest compartments, while others offer luxurious leather materials, which are designed to be easily cleaned and promote fabric breathability. Often, it is possible to replace a standard recliner with a lift chair recliner that for all intensive purposes looks basically the same.

For the senior with arthritis or any other type of diseases or condition that makes standing difficult, a lift chair recliner can prove an amiable and powerful ally in the effort to remain independent.