Lifting Chairs for Seniors – Finding the Best Chair That Helps You Stand Up

Many seniors struggle to get out of their chairs after sitting down. One of the easiest solutions is to increase the height of chairs, using furniture raisers or something similar. Sometimes, however, doing so isn’t enough. Finding a chair that helps you stand up is a much more powerful idea, reducing strain and decreasing the chance for injury.  

Lift chairs offer seniors a solution for gently and slowly getting up and down from a chair or sofa. 

Relying on these chairs may be a better option than having family members yank seniors by their arms to get up, risking a fall to both the senior and an injury to a well-meaning caregiver.

Lifting chairs can come to your rescue.

How Do Lifting Chairs Work?

The general idea of this type of chair is that they use some type of lifting mechanism that helps seniors to stand up again. Many also include a remote and additional features, like the ability to recline the chair so that it can be used for relaxing, reading, or even sleeping.

Such chairs are also comfortable pieces of furniture and offer superb emotional and physical benefits. Evidence from research suggests that lift chairs can help seniors stand and sit faster.

A robust lifting mechanism is featured in all lifting chairs that exert force on the entire chair directly through its base and aid the user in reaching a standing position.

Lifting Chairs and Medicare

Lift chairs are currently covered by Medicare Part B when the senior meets all the eligibility requirements. The patient’s condition and need should be certified by their physician using Form CMS-849 (Medical Necessity for Seat Lift Mechanisms), which verifies that a doctor approves a prescription for a motorized chair lifting device. Be sure to buy the chair from a CMS-approved supplier or else Medicare is unlikely to reimburse you after it’s been purchased.

The mobility and lower body strength of a senior will be very important in determining what lift chair is right for them. We compiled some helpful tips for selecting the best lifting chair and made some recommendations based on their quality, affordability, safety, and portability.

Tips for Finding the Best Lifting Chair

Verify the Position

Lifting chairs typically come in various positions, and not all of the lifting chairs achieve them well. For this reason, ensure to double-check the positions each chair claims to achieve.

Watch for the Proper Fit

Lifting chairs are available in various sizes. The proper fit will help ensure that you stay comfortable for longer periods of time. Watch out for the seat depth, seat width, and floor height before deciding on a chair.

Is the headrest so puffy or high that it causes tension in the neck?

Is the senior so short that their feet hang off the front of the chair, and when the seat reclines forward, it thrusts him or her to the floor causing them to slip or try to quickly catch their grip?

Consider the Weight Capacity

Lift chairs come with an approved weight capacity limit. If the senior is on the upper end of that weight scale, be prepared that the motor may have to push harder to lift them, which can wear it out sooner.

You may want to get a longer warranty or larger chair size, if needed.

Fabric and Style

Buying a lifting chair for yourself or a loved one doesn’t have to feel like you’re buying a wheelchair. To the extent your budget allows, consider how the chair design fits into the aesthetics of your room interiors and how it may clash with existing furniture or décor.

Maybe you like to have side pockets to keep your remote control handy or a cup holder to hold your morning coffee. You’ll want the right fabric that makes you feel good – not sticky or hot. If you have pets, you’ll want to protect your chair as any other pet owners might against cat scratches.

Is incontinence an issue? If so, you’ll want fabric that won’t stain and is easy to clean.

What’s the temperature like? If you live somewhere hot or the senior sweats a lot, leather mightn’t be a good choice. You’ll have more luck with fabric that’s designed to keep users cool.

Who Are They Good For?

Lift chairs are exclusively designed for people to get in and out of their chairs with little effort and strain on their most delicate joints and improve their independence.

The most suitable candidates for a lift are persons with a chronic illness that affect their lower body strength and may be at risk of falling, including persons who have recently had surgery, or have lost partial mobility.

The Best Lifting Chairs to Help Seniors Stand

Signature Design Upholstered Power Lift

This full reclining chair combines functionality and style to produce a dual motor lift chair recliner that elevates your legs and raises your back at the touch of a button. You’ll get the ultimate lounging experience with this lifting chair that features a notable saddle brown upholstery that looks like leather.

Furthermore, the incorporated thick polyfiber offers a cozy feel-good touch to the users. It is exclusively designed for comfort with a metal reinforced seat, sturdy corner-blocked frame, high back, and thick cushions.

You can get your hands on a smooth slow power movement with this lifting chair with an estimated one-minute time to complete an entire cycle with 110 volts.

Plus, the device is ideal for disabled individuals or seniors as it slowly rises, taking a full 14.5 seconds to move from reclined to upright position. The device is also user-friendly as it can be assembled with little hassle thanks to the accompanying tools, hardware, and a detailed set of instructions.

Golden Tech Three Position Lift Chair

This lift chair comes in two sizes: small/medium and medium/large. Both sizes support seniors of up to 375 lbs.

The chair offers three positions, including the ability to fully recline for sleeping. The fabric is designed to be breathable and to keep seniors cool. It’s stain-resistant as well, making it useful for seniors who deal with incontinence.

SmartTek self diagnostic technology is included as part of the chair, to help users quickly identify any problems, offering peace of mind to adult children who live away from their parents.

You can also request extra features, including the addition of deluxe heat and massage, a footrest extension, a change to the head pillow fabric, and pockets on both sides of the chair. The extra features do cost, but they may be worth the price for a senior who relies heavily on the chair.

Vive Massage Chair

The Vive Massage Chair serves two functions, first as a massage chair and second as a chair that helps you stand up. This combination is powerful, as the massage features help seniors to relax and can reduce pain in choice.

Setup is easy, as the chair comes with a preassembled backrest and base.

There are two sizes to choose from.

• The standard version has a total width of 26 inches, with a seat of 18 inches and seat depth of 20.5 inches. It supports up to 88 lbs.
• The large version has a total width of 28 inches instead, with 20.5 inches for the seat width and 21 inches for the depth. This one supports up to 100 lbs.

The low weight capacity of the chair makes it best for slight seniors.

Pride VivaLift Radiance Large/Tall Lift Chair

For heavier seniors, the Pride VivaLift Radiance Chair is one of your best options. This one has a seat width of 23.5 inches and an impressive total width of 40 inches. It can support up to 400 lbs., making it one of the strongest lift chairs on the market.

The chair also features independent movement of the backrest and footrest, giving users plenty of different positions to choose from. Heating pads in the shoulders, lumbar, and seat help to relieve sore joints and muscles, and the heating levels can be adjusted.

How do You Use Lifting Chairs?

Lifting chairs tend to have two buttons. Usually, one button lowers the base of the chair, and after the chair has been lowered, it will raise the footrest and lower the backrest. When you aim to stand, the button will raise the back while the leg rests.

In some cases, when both are closed, and the chair’s base will be raised. This allows the chair to operate with a single hand. As an added precaution, the chair doesn’t allow the user to raise it without first closing the footrest and raising the backrest.

Safety Considerations

There are also a few important safety considerations.

• Make sure the chair’s electric cord is out of the way, so that it doesn’t act as a trip hazard.
• Make sure the size and height of the chair meets the senior’s needs – and that they can use it easily without assistance. It’s best to test this while the family is at home, that way you can be certain there are no issues.
• Test and maintain the chair, paying particular attention to any changes in function, even minor ones. This is extremely important if the senior lives on their own, as you don’t them to fall or get stuck in the chair.

Cognition matters as well. Lift chairs are best for seniors who have the mental capacity to use one well. Seniors with dementia or severe memory loss may struggle with operating the chair and put themselves at risk in the process.

Alternatives to Lifting Chairs

While lifting chairs are amazing, they’re not always the best choice. Sometimes you need a chair that helps you stand up, but don’t have the money or the space for a full lifting chair. Other times, you might want something that is portable and light, or you simply want to take advantage of the furniture that you already have and like. Thankfully, there are some good solutions out there, including the following.  

Carex Uplift Premium Seat

This product has lifting technology and is a standalone seat, rather than a chair. This allows you to place it on whatever armchair or sofa you like. The seat is even portable, so seniors can bring it with them.

The seat relies on memory foam and allows an additional 70% assistance for persons weighing around 350 lbs. The patented LeveLift technology ensures a safe and gentle lift without pushing forward.

The waterproof cover and foam cushion are easy to clean. You can comfortably sit and rest for more extended periods. The chair is ideal for persons with arthritis or limited lower body strength. If you’re looking for a comfortable, lightweight lift assistance device for public places, offices, or home-this one, this one is an excellent option.

When in place, the seat looks much like a regular black cushion, making it useful for anyone embarrassed about using such a product.

Carex Upeasy Seat Assist Plus

This portable lifting seat has chair assistance and a lifting seat that provides increased mobility in the home or anywhere. The seat helps support people weighing from 200 pounds up to 340 pounds. It won’t weigh on your shoulders in transit. It is very lightweight, and has a built-in carry handle

This lifting seat is compatible with most firm sofas and chairs and can be used inside or outside of the home. It can also function as your significant on-the-go companion due to the added standing aid. Safe and comfortable assistance can be provided to people with this self-powered lifting chair, enabling them to stand with or without a walking aid and on their own. As the user begins to stand, the added hydro-pneumatic gas spring in the lifting chair aids the user to stand without the use of batteries.

SitnStand Portable Smart Rising Seat  

The previous two lifting seats worked by mechanically pushing the seat forward – and the senior along with it. The SitnStand Portable Smart Rising Seat takes a different approach.

In particular, the product is a cushion that can be inflated when the senior wishes to stand and deflated when they don’t. It is lightweight, at just 6.6 lbs. and is suitable for seniors up to 265 lbs.

The device includes simple up and down buttons that help to deflate and inflate the cushion steadily as you stand up and sit down.

The device has four chambers that inflate to multiple heights, making it great for seniors both short and tall. Plus, it seems to be durable indoors and outdoors, making it a versatile choice. It even has a removable cover that can be put through the washing machine.

Adjustable Kitchen Stool

This adjustable kitchen stool follows a different style, as it is a full chair that isn’t motorized at all. Instead, it is taller than many other chairs, so seniors aren’t sitting as low and it’s easy to stand. The chair can be adjusted to the height needed, making it useful than many other types of chair.

Plus, the lack of electronics means there is little risk of anything wearing out or breaking. The height is particularly good when you’re in the kitchen, as you can easily reach countertops (which isn’t true with a normal chair).