Lift chairs and more

Standing and sitting is something that sounds so simple, but for millions of Americans that suffer from osteoarthritis or other mobility problems standing and sitting is not so simple. Often a case of arthritis is compounded by a decreased sense of balance that makes it very difficult and even in some cases dangerous to stand up without assistance.

A lift chair is a type of home medical equipment that can make it much easier and safer to stand or sit. The base of a lift chair contains a powerful lifting mechanism that slowly raises the chair into the air at an angle that makes it easier to stand or sit. They are also fully functioning recliners and allow the backrest and leg-rest to be controlled by remote control.

Your weight and size play a big part in deciding what type of lift chair to get. It is a good idea to measure your existing chair first before you begin to shop for lift chairs. Measure the distance between the armrests, which is called the seat width, and the distance from the backrest to the front of the seat, which is called the seat width. This way you can have a very good idea of what sized chair will or won’t work for you.

The weight capacity of the chair varies by model. Most support around 375 pounds, but dual motor lift chairs are available that can support much more. Usually the dual motor chairs offer much wider seats as well, and can be very comfortable

Depending on the model, most lift chairs need to be placed about eighteen inches from the wall, but some units are available that can be placed much closer. These types of chairs are called wall huggers and some can be placed only six inches from the wall.