Lift Chairs: Restoring Independence for the Elderly

Age is an inevitable fact of life. We will all age, there is really no fountain of youth, and no way to keep age from finding us. Possibly the most frustrating aspect of aging is the loss of our mobility and independence. Having the ability to remain independent throughout the aging process is a very important aspect in many lives. Knowing that we can come and go as we please without help is crucial in respect to our self confidence.

A lift chair is a wonderful resource for retaining or regaining your independence. With a lift chair, you have the ability to move from a sitting to a standing position without any help from others. Many styles of lift chairs are available, as well as different aspects of reclining positions. A lift chair can help you to regain your confidence by ensuring that you will be able to go from sitting to standing, without the fear of falling.

A lift chair works by using a motorized mechanism that simply lifts your seat with the push of a button. If you normally need help standing up, a lift chair can give you that help. You simply push the button to raise the chair, and you are lifted into a complete standing position. Once you are on your feet, you can simply walk away from your chair.
Lift chairs also help with the sitting process. When you are ready to sit in your chair, you simply back up to the seat, and push the decline button. The chair will take you into a sitting position slowly, so that you do not lose your balance.

Gaining independence is a very important feeling. Knowing that you have the ability to sit and stand alone, without the help of family and friends, is a wonderful emotion. Many elderly people, as well as those who have been injured or are disabled for a number of reasons, have found their independence again with a lift chair.

With the many styles and colors available in lift chair models, it is safe to assume that you will be able to match your lift chair to your current home furnishings. There are also styles available that will take up very little space, so if you live in a small home or apartment, there is a lift chair that will fit perfectly into small living spaces.
Making the decision to purchase a lift chair seems like an overwhelming task, however, knowing how a lift chair can help to restore your ability to do things on your own is a major decision maker for many. Knowing that you will have restored your mobility, and having more independence in your daily life is the best reason to consider purchasing a lift chair. You will have the ability to move around your home as you wish, without relying on the help of others to get you on your feet or to help you sit. Regaining your independence is a wonderful feeling, and deciding to use a lift chair is the first step.

Buying a Used Lift Chair

When buying a lift chair, as with buying anything else, you want to be sure that you get the best quality, at the lowest possible price. You may wonder about purchasing a used lift chair to save potentially hundreds of dollars off the price of a new one. When choosing your lift chair, however, there are some points to be addressed as far as used versus new.

Although a new lift chair may seem like an expensive purchase, buying a used one may ultimately be just as expensive, if not more. For instance, if the motor stops working, you will pay over $300 to purchase a new one. That is without the hand lift control, if you need both, then your price will be closer to $400. Keep in mind, this is only for the part, you may also need to pay a repair man to install the new motor, which may set you back another $100 or so.

Considering that you may have saved a couple hundred dollars off the price of a new chair, this does not seem like such a bargain after all. You also need to consider that you can not be certain of the true condition of a used lift chair. You may be told that it is in pristine condition, however, you will not fully be able to judge the condition until you have used it. There will also likely not be a guarantee with a used lift chair, as you will receive with a new one. If something goes wrong with a new lift chair, you can rest assured that it will be repaired, or replaced if necessary, at no cost to you. With a used chair, you do not get a guarantee of functionality.

You should also consider the cosmetic condition of the chair. A used lift chair may have worn places and/or holes that will reduce the attractiveness of the chair. Of course, appearance is not the reason that most people use in their decision to purchase a lift chair, however, if you are spending hundreds of dollars on this chair, then you obviously want it to look as good as possible. Speaking of appearance, most people who purchase lift chairs choose colors that will accent their current home décor. When buying a new lift chair, you can be assured of many choices in colors and styles in which to match your new chair to your current furnishings. If you choose to purchase a used chair, your choices of colors and styles are decreased considerably.

Saving money is never a bad thing, however, saving money on something that you truly need, only to be disappointed with the result can be very frustrating. Before you decide to purchase a used lift chair, keep in mind the overall problems a used chair may possess, as well as the fact that, in the long run, you may just end up spending more to repair a used chair than you would have spent purchasing a new one.