The Best Furniture Manufacturers for Handicapped Lift Chairs

A lift chair that fits its user well and provides the types of assistance he needs becomes an invaluable aid to a person who has difficulty using regular recliners. Power lift chairs, which are operated by low-wattage electric motors and often can also be used with a 9-volt battery in case of a power outage, make getting into and out of a chair a much simpler process. Which manufacturer is best depends on what features are needed as well as product durability and manufacturer warranty.

Top-Notch Construction

• Golden Technologies, a family-owned company, manufactures all its lift chairs in the United States. The company constructs each chair to provide maximum service and require little or no maintenance. The chairs all have a state-of-the art lifting system operated by a user-controlled two-button remote. Most chairs carry a lifetime warranty for repair or replacement of the lift mechanism, chair frame and recline mechanism. With their huge assortment of sizes and features, there is a Golden Technologies lift chair to suit the needs of almost anyone.

Ease of Transfer

• Pride Mobility Products Corporation, with corporate headquarters in Pennsylvania, manufactures four collections of lift chairs: Elegance, Heritage, Classic and Specialty. Their chairs carry a lifetime warranty on the steel lift mechanism, with pro-rated warranties on the rest of the components. Model LL-571 of their Specialty collection is a full-position recliner with flip-open arms and built-in storage compartments. Model LL-570T has the unique feature of "transfer arms," arms that can be removed to enable smooth transfer of a handicapped person from the side of the chair. Many other features and options are available.

Added Support

• Med-Lift and Mobility, Inc. uses only kiln-dried oak and hardwoods to manufacture their lift chair frames, and all chairs are made in the United States. The Bentley models have a lifetime warranty on the hardwood frame, steel lift mechanism and scissors hardware, with a 4-year warranty on all other components. The Med-Lift 5053 Series has zippers in the back that allow you to add or remove fiber to the pillows so you can custom-fit the cushions to the individual. The Model 3653 can accommodate a person weighing up to 600 pounds. It has an extra heavy duty frame, heavy duty springs supporting the seat and back, ample padding, 2 motors and a 1-year full warranty.

Prevent Pressure Sores

• Berkline manufactures a lift chair that is wonderful for a person susceptible to pressure sores. Their Style 70077 lift chair has a system of soft, interconnected air cells that allow the chair to conform to the person. When you sit or recline, air flows between cells to adjust to you. You also can inflate or deflate the cell system to make the total cushioning softer or firmer. All of Berkline's lift chairs carry a limited lifetime warranty on the recliner mechanism and wooden frame parts, with a 1-year warranty on electronic components.

Back Pain Relief

• La-Z-Boy Incorporated offers 3 styles of lift chairs, with several options and limited lifetime warranties. La-Z-Boy's Clayton Luxury Lift Chair allows the user to adjust the footrest and the back of the chair independently, which gives better comfort to those with back problems. The La-Z-Boy lift chairs all measure 22 inches from the floor to the seat, a nice feature for those who need the extra height.