As people get older it is a common occurrence that they are unable to stay active and spend a lot more time sitting down. Depending upon an individual’s health issues, a standard armchair may no longer be suitable. Because of this, specialist chairs for elderly people are being recognised more and more as a clinical need and are being added to many elderly individuals’ care plans.
Quite often a family member is needed to assist with helping to choose a more supportive chair for an elderly relative. The chair that they are sitting in needs to be comfortable for them, and offer the right head support as it can become a vital part of how they are able to live their lives.
What is the Best Chair for the Elderly?
A rise recliner chair may be a good option if the person is still semi-mobile. This type of electric riser chair would benefit adults who require leg elevation and adults suffering from Arthritis and Lymphodema, amongst other conditions.
If an individual is hoisted for transfers, they may require more specialist seating. This would benefit adults with conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injury, or adults who are recovering from a Stroke.
If you’re in the position where you need to help an elderly loved one choose a new specialist chair, please read on and we hope you will find the tips below useful.
Top Tips for Choosing a Specialist Chair for the Elderly
Use a reputable supplier
Research different suppliers, taking care to choose the right one as it needs to be high quality. We wouldn’t recommend buying a chair from eBay or a Facebook buying or selling page because there is unlikely to be any after-sales support provided. Companies certified by the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) are a good place to start, as they will be committed to providing outstanding customer service.
Make sure a professional assessment has taken place
It’s important to make sure an assessment has taken place before purchasing a chair. This will ensure the correct dimensions are taken and the right sized chair is selected. But it will also ensure that all the persons clinical and personal needs are considered.
Consider the environment that the chair will be in
How much space is there in the room, and are the doorways particularly small.
Ensure that the chair has a built-in pressure relief system
When sitting for long periods of time pressure areas can develop on elderly skin. But with a height-adjustable pressure relief built into specialist chairs, this can be avoided.
Consider the level of support needed
It’s useful to have an overview of the level of support needed prior to contacting a supplier so that a wide range of suitable specialist chairs for the elderly can be recommended. Also, any particular styles that are preferred.
Consider the functions required
Make sure that specific functions required are present on the selected chair so that it will work well for your loved one. Your assessor will be able to demonstrate these to you at the time of assessment.
Does the chair need to be on wheels?
If your loved one is hoisted they will need a chair that is on wheels – this will ensure that the chair is easy to move around between different rooms. As a result of this, they will benefit from social inclusion and be able to interact with others.
Consider what style/colour your loved one would like, or what may match with the other furniture at home. Also with regards to the fabric, they may need to require practicality and the need for it to be waterproof.
It’s always useful to have a budget in mind when considering purchasing a chair because prices can vary so much depending on the manufacturer, the accessories required, and any adaptations needed. Also if you make your budget clear some companies may have discounted stock available.
Do you have a specific deadline for the delivery?
Does your relative have an especially urgent need for the chair? It’s worth considering which suppliers can offer express delivery or a rental service in the meantime.
As members of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), Premiere Healthcare take pride in going that extra mile for our customers and giving excellent customer service. When we deliver chairs out to our customers, we ensure that the chair is set up for the client and any family members or care staff are trained on how to use it.
We offer after-sales support and advice over the phone, as well as in-person through our local assessors. In addition to this we can help with repairs and servicing should you require it later.
We have assessors all over the country who can come out and do home visits free of charge, and bring some chairs along for your family member to try on the day.
To book an assessment or find out more, please contact us online or call us on 0345 521 1819.
