Standing Confidently with a Lift Chair
Finding a way to increase safety is something that is usually of primary concern for most people. Simply paying attention to your surroundings can often help to improve safety and reduce risks, but for many, this is not enough. One of the greatest concerns is often being able to stand up safely, which is one reason t that the lift chair is as popular as it is today.
Standing up sounds rather simple, but if you are affected by mobility related health problems, such as arthritis or Alzheimer?s, then it is not all that simple. Often standing is difficult enough as it is, but after an individual with arthritis has been sitting for a while, it becomes even more difficult. The inability to safely and independently stand is what led to the development of the first lift chair.
Lift chairs have been used for over twenty years and were developed in the early eighties. These early chairs often used a spring lifting system that would raise the chair into the air. The spring lift chair proved to be dangerous, so reputable companies stopped making them and instead developed electric lift chairs. While most companies no longer offer spring lift chairs, a few disreputable companies do, so if the company is selling these types of chairs you should avoid buying from them. A good indication is the price and a lack of brand name.
The electric lift chair not only allows the chair to be raised electronically, but the backrest and footrest are also operated by an electric motor. This is something that greatly increases the comfort of the chair, because it is possible to find a comfortable precise position by only pushing a button. This ability to control the chair electronically makes a huge difference when you compare it to regular recliners, which require the user to use the weight of their body to cause the chair to recline.
In addition to providing a lot of customization, a lift chair will allow an individual to quickly achieve independence, because they will be able to stand without any help. The chair is usually controlled by a simple hand control. The hand control, which features large easy use buttons, is physically attached to the chair with a cord. This supplies the control with power, so you do not need to remember to replace the batteries and since it is attached, the hand control can not be lost.
Many of the lift chairs that are available today offer a battery backup system that kicks in if the chair looses power. This allows the chair to be used in the event of an emergency, such as during a storm or any other time the power goes out. A single nine-volt battery can raise the entire chair, but will need to be replaced after it is used. When not used, most people replace the battery when they replace the battery in their fire alarm.
The weight that a lift chair can support will vary by model, but typically a lift chair will support over 300 pounds. If need be, several chairs are available that utilize dual motors in order to support over six hundred pounds.
