Power lift chairs (or simply lift chairs) are just like any ordinary single, high-backed chair or recliner. They have electrical mechanisms installed beneath that lift and/or recline the chair for the purpose of assisting a patient to stand, sit, and lie down on their own. This helps reduce tension on the afflicted muscles, joints, and bones that causes pain when patients move to sit, stand, and recline.

Obviously, these chairs are recommended for the elderly and other people who are, whether permanently or temporarily, not capable of doing these actions without experiencing pain. These are commonly recommended for people with arthritis, multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries, and other mobility issues.

Kinds of Power Lift Chairs

Variations of these chairs have different capacities of shifting into a number of positions. The simplest and cheapest is the Two-Position lift chair, which can only rise at 45o-90o angles and then back down. Three-Position lift chairs can be reclined in addition to the “up” and “down” positions. A “Full-Recline” lift chair can be laid completely flat to resemble a bed; while an Infinite-Position lift chair can do that while allowing the feet to have independent mobility. Some models of the latter type can allow the feet to be placed higher than the heart. There may or may not be built-in retractable footrests on the first two, but these are almost always present in the latter two.

Convenient Medical Equipment

When a power lift chair is activated, it inclines the chair while keeping its front legs in place. This allows the person to bend just a little bit, lean his/her weight against the chair, and slowly let the contraption resume its down position.

Lift chairs look just like an ordinary, upholstered chair so they don’t look out of place at home.

Unlike regular recliners, power lift chairs are operated with just a press of a button. This is far more convenient since a physically challenged person will be able to operate the chair himself.

Men may simply be innately proud beings, but one cannot deny that there is a sense of pride and dignity in being able to function without inconveniencing others. Older people are even more sensitive about this. Providing them with power lift chairs goes beyond giving them assistance in standing and sitting. You are allowing them, and other physically challenged individuals, to retain control over an aspect of their lives — and that is something very important to them.

In order to save you the time and energy as well as to make everyday life easier for them, it’s best to settle for getting durable power lift chairs for seniors. This type of equipment can make life easier and less frustrating for your elderly loved ones. In fact, it may encourage them to become more active and sociable since moving around or getting into cars can become less tedious for them.

To help you choose the right kind of power lift chairs for seniors here’s an overview of some of the most common lift types as well as a few important things that you need to take into consideration.

Various Types of Wheel Chair Lifts

Basically, platform wheelchair lifts are designed to employ hydraulics to transport the wheelchair from a lower level to a higher level and vice versa. There are various kinds of vertical platform lifts; however, the most common types include the following.

• The Stage Lift

This particular type is ideally used to transport chairs in a short vertical distance.

• Enclosed Platform Lift

This type of lift employs a concept similar to that of an elevator. In order to ensure safety, this lift encloses all sides of the wheelchair while moving it to a different location.

• Vehicle Mobility Lift

This type of wheelchair lift can make going in and out of a van much simpler and easier for seniors traveling in a wheelchair. Some manufacturer offer this type of equipment in a more effective design that allows you to place the entire thing on the back of the van or inside the trunk when not in use. Some power lift chairs for truck models, are only good to be attached to the back of any vehicle.

• Shaft Wheel Chair Lift

This model is ideal for homes having constricted hallways. It is designed to allow ease of mobility in narrower spaces.

These are just some of the most common types of Wheelchair lifts. It’s important that you choose one that suits your house and the type of transportation you use in order to really make the most out of this expensive piece of equipment. Finally, you also have to make sure that the wheelchair lift you buy is built with all the necessary safety features.

What are power lift chairs?

Lift chairs are more like recliners, only better. They eliminate the painful act of getting off and sitting down a seat. At the push of a button, the chair tilts to a standing position so that the user can simply walk out of it. When it’s time to return to the seat, the user simply leans back into the chair, and the user’s weight will trigger the motor to lower the chair.

Medicare coverage

The lift chairs of the early 80s used a spring mechanism to control the movement, but this wasn’t very safe. Lift chairs of today are powered by a motorized mechanism that allows the chair to move in a curving motion. This permits the user to use the device without any risks.

The lift mechanism is one of the most important parts of power lift chairs. Medicare coverage is restricted to this mechanism only, and not the whole chair. Moreover, the user should be able to meet a list of criteria before he or she could be eligible for the coverage. These requirements are:

• The user must be a patients suffering from arthritis. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints and causes mobility problems for people aged 50 and above. Sufferers experience pain when moving their joints. If the person has difficulty moving around at home but does not have arthritis, he or she will not qualify for the Medicare coverage.
• Since lift chairs are designed for arthritis patients and not for persons with disabilities, the individual should be able to walk without assistance from anyone upon getting off the chair.
• To avail of power lift chairs Medicare reimbursement, the would-be user should have a doctor’s prescription. Medicare provides compensation only if the chair is part of the patient’s arthritis treatment.

It’s hard to find health insurance that covers all medical emergencies these days. Medicare can bring so much relief once it becomes your ally. In most cases, people get a lift chair first, and then apply for a reimbursement. If this is what you plan to do, make sure to keep the original sales slips and the doctor’s prescription.

You can also look for various other suppliers either online or within your neighborhood. Usually, suppliers who offer power lift chairs cars and trucks also offer a variety of products that can help you lift, store and transport things like a travel or a full sized scooter and others.

This type of equipment may eat up a great percentage of your budget, causing you to become less enthusiastic about buying one. However, before you completely let go of the idea of acquiring one, you have to first realize that this equipment (given that you choose one with high quality) is indeed a good investment.

Whether it’s one of your grandparents or parents or any other member of your family who uses a wheelchair, you will be doing that person a big favor if you decide on getting such equipment. Having this around will encourage them to go out more often since it’s easier to transport their wheelchair.

Now, if you’re already trying to weight in your options then here are a few of the best types you must consider.

The Universal 400 Deluxe Power Rotating Scooter or Power Wheelchair Lift

With a lifting capacity of 400 lb, this vehicle battery operated scooter and wheelchair lift is available for about $2,249. It features a manual boom arm extension and a powered boom arm rotation. It has a headroom requirement of around 30 inches. This model is great for power chairs and large scooters.

AmeriGlide Extender Plus Scooter Lift or Power Wheelchair Lift

This model is particularly designed to transport scooter and power wheelchairs to SUVs. It has a lifting capacity of 350 lb and a headroom requirement of 31 inches. Sold for a price of $2,429, the AmeriGlide Extender Plus is built with easy to use controls, an industrial rated motor, and a coated steel frame.

Side Door Dive Thru Scooter Lift or Power WheelChair Lift 275

This model is available for $2,799. It has a lifting capacity of 275 lb and a headroom requirement of 32 inches. It comes with a fixed height and fixed base legs. This mid-sized lift can also be installed in the side door of SUVs and vans as well as to the side of the driver’s seat or to the passenger’s door.

There are various other types of lifts available in the market. If you want to get the best deal, choose one that’s specifically designed for the type of vehicle you are planning to transport the wheelchair in.

Lift chairs have become very useful to mobility challenged people. They’ve become so popular that you can now find a bewildering number of styles, sizes, and designs. For this reason, it’s important to ask some questions to find the product that best suits your needs and preferences.

Ask Yourself Some Questions

Before buying a power lift chair, ask yourself a couple of questions. Think about the power lift chairs medicare, weight, height, and comfort levels. If you’re rather tall or heavy, you may need an equally large chair. Heavy-duty chairs usually have a weight capacity of more than 300 lbs. Also, try to see if you’re comfortable with the seat’s width and depth.

Ask Questions about the Product

One of the first things to ask about the lift chair is how much weight it can carry. Remember, even if the chair can properly function at first, it could fall victim to wear and tear eventually. Also ask the seller how many motors the chair can take. The chair may need an extra motor to carry large weight or deliver all positions correctly.

The next question concerns the seat’s weather/water resistance. If you do a lot of traveling, go for vinyl (or other water-resistant materials) power lift chairs. Cars are exposed to the elements, so this is a good question to ask.

Ask about the Orders

When you’ve chosen a chair, the next thing to ask is if shipping is free. Some companies offer free shipping if your total purchase reached a certain price. Power lift chairs cost a lot, usually more than $100 so researching whether or not a particular supplier offers free shipping is imperative to cut down costs

Next, ask if the company has a return policy. A reliable company should be able to honor warranties and offer customer support. If would be great if you can easily have the seat fixed if something unforeseen goes wrong.

Ask about Its Different Uses

You may have to do some drilling and other procedures if you plan to use the chair inside a vehicle. If this is the case, ask about installment and if the company provides installment services.

A lot of questions about usage revolve around whether or not lifts can be used inside a car. Ask how the chair will work in your vehicle and what lift suits your car. Also, ask if you can plug the seat into your car’s wiring in the event that your vehicle will lose power.

Lastly, inquire about any manuals that will help you with the maintenance of power lift chairs. Cars and lift chairs both require maintenance for optimum performance.

Choosing the right lift chair shouldn’t be difficult. Discuss your concerns so to know what’s best for you.

Electric power lift chairs look like recliners, but come with a motor that raises and lowers the chair. If you want to get off the chair, you push a button, and then the chair tilts to a standing position so that you can just walk out of it. When not in use, the chair is in the standing position. If you want to sit down, you simply lean on the chair. Your weight will trigger the motor to lower the chair back to a sitting position.

These innovative chairs are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, fabrics, prices and styles. Consider these things when shopping for a lift chair. Choose the wrong chair and you might experience more pain than relief.

Weight Capacity

Consider the user’s height and body size. The seat’s height, depth, and width should adequately fit the individual. Ideally, the chair’s height should be enough for the user to place his or her feet flat on the ground when in the sitting position.

Most electric power lift chairs can accommodate a weight of up to 350 pounds (or 158.76 kg), but some can be customized to fit larger people.

Optional Massager

If you want additional therapeutic treatments, try getting a lift chair that comes with a built-in massage and heating unit, that’s where the power lift chairs seniors come in best.

Two or Three Positions

Another point to think about is how many positions the chair offers. The original lift chair is capable of two positions — the 90 degrees slight recline and the upright sitting position. Such chairs don’t recline enough for comfortable sleeping.

Three-position lift chairs, on the other hand, provides the two original positions, plus a full recline that elevates your legs. These chairs are often wider and deeper, thereby ideal for comfortable sleeping or napping.

Determine if the user will mostly be sleeping or sitting on the chair.

Power Backup

Most lift chairs are plugged into an electric outlet, but you might want to get a chair that comes with an extra battery pack, which you’ll find very handy in case of power failures.

Cleanliness

Seniors, the usual users of power lift chairs, often suffer from incontinence problems. If this is the case, you may want a chair with vinyl or other water-resistant seat cover.

Warranties

Lastly, ask the seller about warranties because motors have a limited life span, so coverage for a pre-defined time frame would do you good.