How to Find the Best Lift Chair

By: Gen Wright Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Lift chairs are a source of independence for people who have trouble rising from a sitting position. The chairs are motorized, and they rise slowly and tip forward slightly to allow the person to go from sitting to standing without having to lift their body weight. They are very useful in private homes, and in nursing homes to help the elderly or disabled have a degree of independence and to keep nursing assistants free to tackle more demanding tasks. There are a bewildering number of options in lift chairs in terms of size, features, colors, and number of positions, and it can be daunting to try to narrow down the choices. When shopping for a lift chair, it is important to consider the client's height and weight, preferences for where the chair's controls are located, and what features are needed or wanted. Decor and personal preference should also be taken into account.

The chair user's height and weight are more important when picking a lift chair than when choosing a regular chair. The lift chair must not only be comfortable, but it must have a motor strong enough to help a person rise to a standing position. Lift chairs come in sizes like clothing: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and Extra Extra Large. These size designations have more to do with the chair user's height than weight. However, if a shorter chair user requires a wider seat or extra lifting capacity, wide chairs come in their own versions of Small, Medium, and Large, etc. That way someone who is short, but who weighs a lot will have a chair that fits more comfortably than a traditional sized lift chair made for someone much taller.

Lift chairs are available with two, three, or infinite positioning options. The fewer the positioning options, the less expensive the chair. If a person has no need for a chair that fully reclines or doesn't plan to sleep in the chair, then a two or three position chair will save money over an infinite position chair. The chairs with an infinite number of positions from which it can rise are the most expensive, usually starting at around $1,000.00. But their flexibility is for many people more than just a luxury. Many of these chairs can be positioned with the feet elevated above heart level, which is helpful to some medical conditions.

Some lift chairs come with conveniences like built-in heat and massage, pockets to hold magazines, and snack trays with or without cup holders. All of these extras add to the cost of the chair, but for some people those extras may make the difference between having a comfortable chair and having a chair that doesn't meet their needs.

On the other hand, if the person using the chair is used to a regular, non-reclining chair and has no need or desire for a chair that reclines, then there's no reason to spend extra money on features that aren't going to be used. Fortunately, chairs in every size and configuration are available in a wide range of colors and fabric styles to coordinate with most any type of decor.

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About The Author: Sean Rutger is an expert on lift chairs. For more information on liftchairs, follow the link.