Lift Chair FAQs
Learn More About Adding a Lift Chair To Your Home
A lift chair is a reclining chair that adds extra comfort and safety to your home. But do you know about the benefits they can provide you? Do you know which type of lift chair is the right choice for your home? Do you understand the basics of how a lift chair works? At ThedaCare At Home, our focus is on serving as a resource for our customers and patients to make sure they have all the answers they need to make an informed buying decision. Below, you will find the most common questions our staff encounters about lift chairs. If you don't see your question, please reach out to our team and we'd be happy to answer any questions you have directly.
What is the difference between a lift chair and a reclining lounge chair?
Lift chairs offer more functionality while providing the same level of comfort as traditional reclining chairs. They are designed to aid the user as they sit and stand more gradually to reduce the risk of falling and getting injured.
How do lift chairs work?
Each lift chair is equipped with a remote control that allows you to raise and lower the chair to assist you as you sit and stand. For example, if you’re sitting in your chair and are ready to stand up, use the remote to raise the chair and aid you as you stand. When you’re ready to sit back down, just lean into the chair and use the remote to gradually lower yourself. Depending on the optional add-ons for your chair, your remote will also include options to adjust your headrest, reclined position, and engage heating or massaging elements.
What are the benefits of a lift chair?
Lift chairs offer several benefits to the user and caregivers that go beyond increased comfort, including:
- Assisting with sitting and standing
- Simplifying patient transfers for nurses and caregivers
- Allowing you to elevate your feet to reduce swelling in the legs
- Chairs that are available in multiple fabrics and colors to match your home’s design
Who would benefit from using a lift chair?
It’s important to note that you don’t need a medical need to experience the variety of benefits that lift chairs offer. Lift chairs often include a wide range of comfort features that can benefit anyone. But for those who do have a medical issue, here is who can be helped by using a lift chair:
- Individuals living with limited mobility or seniors wanting to age in pace
- Users with a short-term need who are recovering from injury, illness, or surgery
- People with circulation issues that can cause painful swelling and edema
How Do You Go About Selecting a Lift Chair?
When it comes to selecting your lift chair, it is important to identify the key reasons you need to use one. To define which lift chair is best for you, ask yourself these questions.
- Have you defined your main reasoning for needing a lift chair? If so, what is your top reason?
- Are you most concerned about style, comfort level, or another factor?
- Have you taken a look at our options available? Make sure to check out all of your options by viewing our catalog.
- Have you reached out for assistance in your decision-making process? We are here to help - contact us for assistance in making your selection.
What are the Main Differences Between a Two-Position, Three-Position, and Infinite Position Lift Chair?
There are different types of lift chairs including two-position, three position, and infinite position lift chairs all with a backrest that can be stopped at any point of recline.
~ A two-position lift chair has a single motor that runs the back recline and ottoman but does not fully recline. A two-position lift chair is controlled with single toggle switch on the hand pendant.
~ A three-position lift chair may stop in any position, as the back reclines the ottoman rises. These chairs also have a single motor that runs the back recline and ottoman with single toggle switch on the hand pendant controls everything.
~ With an infinite position lift chair, the footrest is controlled separately from the backrest, and this backrest can recline fully. Infinite position lift chairs can recline the back parallel to the floor (flat) and allow the ottoman to raise the feet above the heart or move to a zero-gravity position. These tend to be the higher-end chairs as they are full-chaise loungers with padding from the seat all the way across the ottoman, no gaps, all padded.
Will Medicare cover the purchase of a lift chair?
If you have Medicare coverage, it may cover a portion of the purchase of your lift chair. Medicare will only cover costs related to the lifting components and will not fund the full purchase of your chair. In order to be eligible for Medicare coverage for lift chair purchases, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have a prescription from your physician stating your need for a lift chair
- You AND your physician must complete a medical necessity form to demonstrate your need for a seat lift mechanism
Once it is verified that you meet the requirements, you can receive up to 80% of the cost for the motorized components of the lift chair.