Reasons for Using a Lift Chair

It is often difficult to stand without any help from people who are mobility challenged. Things like arthritis are increasingly common as people age and can make it very difficult to stand without any help from the outside. This is one of the reasons that a lift chair is such a popular and elegant solution to this problem.

A lift chair allows an individual to be able to independently stand without any help from others. Using these chairs is simple, because most have a very easy to use hand control system. The chair actually rises up into the air and when it is fully raised, it leaves the occupant at a position where they can easily exit the chair into an upright standing position.

People who use these chairs are also treated to a much more comfortable chair than most recliners. The actual reclining part is controlled electronically, so it is very easy to find a very comfortable position. 3 Position Lift Chairs are very popular and can recline to about a 180 degrees.

Most of these chairs support over 250 pounds and models are available to fit individuals of all heights. Adhering to the weight and height rating is very important though, because this can directly affect the safety of the user.

Lift Chairs: Getting Up Safely

If you or a loved one is mobility challenged, then there are probably some tasks that are very difficult. One of the most common tasks that can be both difficult and dangerous is the task of getting up out of a chair. This can be hard to do without assistance and often puts the seated individual in an unsafe situation. To help increase safety and make it easy to get up out of chairs, a lift chair is commonly used.

These chairs are similar to recliners, but they also can be raised into the air, which makes it easy to exit the chair in a position that is close to standing. This is why they are called lift chairs. The chair does not move straight upwards, but instead moves at a slight angle, which, when fully raised, positions the seat of the chair at a safe height and angle for entering or exiting the chair.

In addition to making it easier to get up, lift chairs are also often outfitted with a heat and massage system. This makes the chairs very comfortable and can help sooth sore muscles. Many times this is an optional feature, but some chairs come with this standard.

The 2008 Arthritis Walk

Arthritis is a disorder that affects well over forty million United States citizens every year. It is generally characterized by a reduction in mobility, because it attacks person's joints. There are many different kinds of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, which is the most common. Many people find that they have difficulty standing on their own, so they use lifting aids, like lift chairs and seat lifts, to help them stand safely.

Arthritis can occur in people of all ages, but it is most common amongst people over the age of sixty. Lindy Highsmith is one of the exceptions to this rule and at age 23 she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis causes inflammation of the joints, but also affects the kidney, heart, lungs, and other organs. It tricks the persons own immune system into attacking their joints and organs.

Lindy Highsmith, a North Carolina resident, has been chosen to host this years Wilmington Arthritis Walk, which is the 3rd annual benefit that is held in Wilmington North Carolina.

The organizers of this years walk are aiming at earning $30,000 to help further research and education of arthritis. In large part organized by the Carolinas chapter of the Arthritis Foundtation, this walk also helps to raise awareness about arthritis, which affects more than a ¼ of the population of North Carolina.

Highsmith, who also recently had a non-cancerous brain tumor removed, is very excited about this opportunity and honor.

To find out more about the 2008 Arthritis Walk, which begins tomorrow, Sept. 13th, at 10:00 AM, visit their site.

Recliners and Lift Chairs

In life, there are many things that are easier when you are younger. Safely standing and sitting down is often one of the things that become difficult with age. Arthritis or other mobility related problems are often at the root of this difficulty, but cognitive disorders can also make this task more difficult. In these cases a lift chair is frequently used to improve safety and ensure independence.

A lift chair, like a recliner, provides a comfortable place to sit and allow the back of the chair to recline. They also provide a sturdy footrest and some even have a built in massager and heat source. While recliners and lift chairs share many similarities, they also have some very notable differences.

The biggest difference between lift chairs and recliners is that a lift chair actually rises into the air. This makes it easier and safer for the seated individual to stand. It also means that most people can stand without requiring any assistance. They are also used in the reverse manner to allow an individual to sit in a controlled and safe way.

One of the other big differences between recliners and lift chairs is that lift chairs allow the backrest to be controlled electronically. This improves usability and overall comfort and eliminates some of the drawbacks of a traditional recliner. Mainly this eliminates the need for the user to lean back to recline the chair. It also means that the backrest will not rise when the person shifts their weight or repositions their body.

Using and Owning a Lift Chair

Frequently factors such as arthritis or muscular diseases make standing and sitting very difficult, so many people rely on paid nurses or family members to help them to stand and sit. This can put a burden on your pocket or your family members and also means that you will have to work around someone else's schedule. Instead it is usually better to use a lift chair, which allows you to independently stand whenever you want.

Lift chairs are like recliners, but can be lifted into the air using a powerful lifting mechanism. When the chair is fully raised, the chairs occupant is positioned in a manner that is perfect for standing or sitting. These chairs usually use a remote control that is physically attached to the chair.

The buttons on the remote are easy to see and feel, and because the remote is attached, you do not need to worry about loosing it. If the chair does not have a remote control, then it will use a set of buttons that are built into the chair and usually found on the armrest. As with the remote control, the buttons built into the chair will be easy to use and find.

People who use lift chairs are able to stand and sit without having to rely on anyone else. This means you do not have to plan your schedule around a caretaker. With many very attractive designs to choose from, it is never a problem to find a chair that goes with your existing decor.

Using and Operating a Lift Chair

Many people of varying ages have difficulty standing and sitting. Often it is a result of arthritis, which is more common among those over sixty-five, but can affect people of all ages. If you are unable to stand or sit, then a lift chair might be a good mobility aid.

A lift chair is a standing and sitting aid, which uses an electric motor and a powerful lifting arm to raise the chair into the air. The electric motor not only controls the lifting arm, but it also is used to control the backrest and footrest, which makes it easy to find a comfortable sitting position.

Those that use lift chairs are usually able to operate the chair with ease. They usually use an attached remote control, which, since it is attached, can not be lost and is always within reach of the seated individual. Some use buttons that are actually built into the chairs armrest, but in either case the buttons are large enough that they can be operated easily. If you are a caretaker, you might consider purchasing a chair that has removable armrests, which can make transferring your ward into and out of the chair safer and easier.

Many of the chairs available come with a battery backup, which ensures that the chair can always be used, even in the event of a power disruption. The battery backup kicks in automatically and operates seamlessly, so there is nothing required of the chair user. It uses a single 9 volt battery and should be replaced annually when you replace your fire-alarm battery, but if the power goes out and you use the chair the battery should be replaced.

Lift chairs provide an excellent service, because they allow a person to easily and independently stand or sit. They are an inexpensive way to ensure that you or a loved one will always be able to safely stand.

Standing Safely

Standing or sitting might sound easy, but this is not always so. Sometimes due to an injury or a health problem, like arthritis, a person's mobility can be affected in a manner that makes it impossible or difficult to stand safely without having assistance. To help correct this problem many people use lift chairs.

A lift chair is in many ways very similar to the type of recliner that most people are familiar with, but they are also quite different. Lift Chairs can be slowly raised into the air, supported by a powerful lifting mechanism, and when fully raised a person is able to safely stand or sit in a controlled and safe manner.

When deciding to invest in a lift chair, you have a few different options and the chairs fall into 3 main categories. They can be divided by the way and distance that they can recline. A two-position lift chair is able to recline to an angle of about 45 degrees. These chairs make excellent TV, reading, or eating chairs, but since they do not recline all the way, they might not make the best sleeping chairs. A three-position lift chair reclines to a position that is almost horizontal and perfect for sleeping. The last category that a lift chair can be divided into is an infinite position lift chair.

Infinite position lift chairs are able to recline to the same degree as a three-position chair, but unlike the other two types of chairs, infinite position lift chairs allow the footrest and the backrest to be controlled independently of one another. This can have medical benefits and also makes it much easier to find the perfect combination of recline.

Whatever type of chair you get, they will not be limited to only two or three positions, but will instead be able to stop at any position up until they reach their recline limit.