Lift Chairs

When afflicted with obesity, old age, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or arthritis simple activities such as getting out of a chair can become a daunting task.

As such, there have been many programs formed to assist individuals dealing with these problems, including homes where any need would be taken care of by a staff.

Your Independance

To maintain independence and an enjoyable lifestyle, however, there have been other innovations made in our modern times to help those that suffer with these ailments that result in mobility restrictions.

One of these inventions is known as a lift chair.  These lift chairs have a variety of purposes and styles but with their construction optimized to cater to the large population of those in need for assistance in mobility when sitting up and down.

Find The Right Fit

To determine an ideal fit, a buyer should take into consideration the specific elements of the lift chair. This includes the material it is made from, the amount of weight it can sustain as well as the compatibility of it and the buyers height and the aesthetic appeal.

Lift chairs are designed similar to a typical armchair found in any modern, middle class living room, but with the ability to rise up to elevate the sitter to a standing position, with the same technology as a reclining chair. (This product is also capable of reclining back, as well as up.)

This, however, is but one feature these chairs have to offer.

We have a list of the most popular manufactures of lift chairs.

Other Lift Chair Features

They may also come with a massaging element and their own battery, in case the power goes out.

Without battery backup it is highly likely that those dependent on the chair would end up confined to it in a vulnerable position during an event such as a lightning storm in which the power goes out, making the independence that is supposed to be gained  from the product a failure in such a situation.

For matters of practicality, the material of lift chairs can also be important.

As the elderly commonly utilize these products to ensure their security and ease of mobility, a material which is either easy to clean or resistant to fluids, in case wetting occurs.

Alternatively, they come with coverings of suede or leather, but these can be more expensive.

Lift Chair Benefits

Though the most common purpose of a lift chair is to allow comfortable living in public rooms or sometimes a bedroom, there are also varieties of this chair designed to make baths a reality for handicapped individuals.

Specially designed, bath lift chairs will lower a person into a tub easily, allowing a lengthy and relaxing bath before lifting them out.

For more reasons on why to use a lift chair take a look at our benefits of a lift recliner page.

Lift Chairs For Elderly

In time, various inventions such as these lift chairs will redefine how society views the elderly, making their lives and the lives of their loved ones more comfortable and enjoyable, instead of being troubled by constant worry over their safety.

These products are being sold in furniture stores, online places such as Amazon, and other retail outlets.

Besides being a comfortable place to sit, a lift chair offers the convenience and comfort of sitting and standing to the seniors in an easier way. This happens because when an electric motor mounted on the base of the lift chair is activated, the whole chair along with the occupant is lifted slowly.

When the chair gets raised up fully, the senior occupant can easily exit the lift chair and he can easily transfer to a standing position.

Safety Features For Seniors

It must be remembered that lift chairs are made with a number of safety features which prevents the elderly people from simply exiting the seat.

For example, even when the chair is fully raised, the senior occupant who rest on the chair can conveniently sit on the chair without any risk of falling down from the chair.

Moreover, the chair will not rise by simply pushing the button of the lift chair. On the contrary, the person sitting on the chair has to continuously press the constant pressure switch of the chair in order to raise the chair.

This ensures that the chair doesn’t rise on its own, if a person accidentally pushes the button or sits on the remote. Thus lift chairs for seniors offer increased safety and convenience for elderly.

See A Lift Chair In Action

For more information on Golden Technologies and other manufacturers take a look at our rundown of the different lift chairs brands that are available.

Lift Chair Financing

Purchasing a lift chair outright can be an expensive proposition. Therefore it might be a good idea to check out any help you can get to pay for your chair.

Luckily there are some resources already available for those who need financial help with getting their chair. One option is the Veterans Administration, you can go to their site at: va.gov for more information.

Programs in your particular state might also have financial assistance set up.

For the US try: www.genome.gov
In the UK check out: direct.gov.uk

It might also be possible to get financial aid in the form of Medicare for your lift chair.

Lift Chair Repair And Troubleshooting

Keeping your lift chair in good working order is of course an important part of owning one.

Here’s a few common problems and solutions. Try these first before looking for a company to repair something that might not be broken in the first place.

• Chair doesn’t work at all: check to make sure the power is properly connected and working from the outlet first
• Chair is in full tilted or down position and won’t move: try replacing the switch or the handcontrol
• Chair stops working after a few up and down cycles: the thermal limit switch might be overheated, let the chair site for 10-15 minutes and try again
• Chair will only lift or recline when no one is sitting in it: the motor or gears might be stripping, try replacing the capacitor within the motor (please contact a professional electriction for more details on how to do this safely)
• Motor is running but no movement in the chair: either the gears are faulty or the motor nut threads could be defective

Tip:  Most lift chairs come with a warranty and should be tested before constant use.

Lift Chair Rentals

If you don’t have the budget to buy a lift chair outright why not consider renting one instead?  Some companies offer a service of renting a lift chair for a lower cost than actually buying one.

This is a great option if you need one right away and can’t afford it, or if you just need one short term and don’t need to spend the money on owning one.

Usually the rental company will install and give instructions on the lift chair which can make it a very convenient choice.  The downside however is that these chairs will probably be already used and you might not have the same options for style or features when shopping for one.

Pros And Cons

You will have to weight the pros and cons of buying one verse renting and make your decision on which every is the best overall choice.

The cost to rent might be around $100 a month.  If you plan to have the chair for a long period of time this could end up costing more than just buying it.  If possible try to find a company that offers a rent to buy program so that you can eventually own the chair.

Contract Obligations

Do make sure to check out the contract thoroughly so that you fully understand what you will be responsible for with repairs in case anything goes wrong with the lift chair.

Also check to see if there are any hidden costs above what the listed rental fee is on the companies website or advertisement.  Remember the idea of renting is to save money, don’t end up spending more.

Hopefully this information has given you the advice necessary to find the right chair for you and the advantage of lift chairs is made clear.

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