It’s no secret that the older we get, the less mobile and flexible we become and therefore sitting down and getting up from a chair can be an issue. There is lots of seating available on the market that is designed to help elderly people, making it easier to get in and out of chairs and also providing shoulder and back support. Choosing the correct seating for the elderly in your hospital or care home is an essential part of ensuring your patients feel comfortable which is why in this post, we look at how to choose seating for the elderly.
Electric reclining chairs
Electric reclining chairs are excellent seating for the elderly as the electric motors allow you to position your chair how you like. These chairs are fitted with motors that allow you to adjust the leg rest, backrest and, most importantly, you can tilt the recliner to make it easier to get in and out of the seat. These adjustable motors make perfect seating for the elderly as you can position your chair for maximum comfort. Electric reclining chairs are also ideal for care homes and hospitals as patients can lift the chairs, helping them get out of the chair easier without the help of a nurse or care assistant.
For bariatric patients, there are bariatric recliner chairs available.
High back chairs
As you may be aware, back and shoulder injuries are a lot more common in the elderly which is why it is important to consider this when choosing seating for them. Lower back chairs offer less back support and therefore it better for the elderly if they can use high back chairs due to increased back support. High back chairs hold the patients back in a neutral position, preventing their spine being subject to excess forces and therefore reducing posture issues for your elderly patients.
Use cushions to improve your existing seating
Not everyone can afford to splash out on brand new seating for the elderly which is why utilising cushions is a great way to improve your existing seating. Patient cushions are available from Renray Healthcare to use with your current seating set-up and the advantage of using cushions is that they can be transferred from chair to chair.
Avoid armless chairs
Chairs without arms can be extremely difficult for elderly people with reduced mobility to get in and out of. If your care home or hospital ward is full of armless chairs then you could find patients are falling and injuring themselves, especially when getting out of a chair unattended, which is why seating for the elderly should always include arms. Chairs with arms will also offer additional comfort.
Another small feature to look out for is to select seating for the elderly that has colourful upholstery as it helps patients with reduced vision to see them better.
For more information on Renray Healthcare’s seating for the elderly please call us on 01606 593 456 or email us at info@renrayhealthcare.com.