Lift Recliner Consumer Guide: Introduction

While seniors are not the only group affected by arthritis, it is most common among those over 65 and greatly limits the mobility of the elderly all over the world. For many seniors, the process of getting out of a chair, especially after having been sitting for awhile, is incredibly difficult. This is why so many seniors decide to invest in a lift chair for their living room.

Lift chairs are quite important tools used to provide safety and security to those who are unable to stand without assistance.

The Look and Feel of a Lift Recliner

The outward appearance of a lift chair often is closely tied to that of a standard recliner, with very similar designs and fabric choices. However, unlike a regular Lazy-Boy-Recliner, lift chairs are designed not just as a comfortable place to relax and watch TV, but also to provide a way of making it easier for the senior to stand up and sit down. This allows the person using the lift chair to sit down in a controlled manner, as well as standing on command, without having to rely on a family member or other person.

Operating a Lift Recliner

While there are hundreds of different types of lift chairs available, the design is basically the same. They look like similar to a recliner, which is why these devices are often called lift recliners, but the entire lift chair is controlled electronically by using a simple hand control. The hand control is designed for seniors, so is typically much less complicated than even the simplest television remote.

Often, the lift chair hand control features just two buttons, an up button and a down button, which can be used to control the backrest, footrest, and lifting system. The lifting system is designed to raise the entire lift chair frame upwards, so that the person using it can exit safely on their feet.

However, it is important to note that the lift chair is designed in a manner that the individual is never dumped from the chair as it is raised. Instead, it is possible to completely raise the lift chair and to remain comfortably seated in it the entire time, even when it is at its peak.

Modern lift chairs also use a special constant pressure switch system in the hand control. What this does is ensure that the lift chair only moves while someone is physically pushing the button. This way, if, for example, the senior is sleeping and accidentally brushes up against the hand control, the lift chair will not rise. This ensures that the lift chair will not accidentally rise or move, unless someone is pressing the hand control button.

Popular Lift Chair Manufacturers

There are many lift chair manufacturers, but the two most established and well known manufacturers are Pride Mobility and Golden Technologies. These companies have both been involved in the home medical industry for over twenty years and got their start by custom building lift chairs in the eighties. Pride Lift Chairs and Golden Lift Chairs are well known for their quality and reliability.