By jwilder
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Lift chairs - sofa chairs that have a mechanical lift inside to help people stand/sit - have a great many benefits for seniors. They’re helpful for people with back pain, fibromyalgia, recent hip replacements, and balance issues, among many others- helping them sit and stand more naturally.
Great though they are, lift chairs can be improved by the right accessories. In this guide to the best lift chair accessories, you’ll learn which products can make your lift chair even better, and why!
Main Types of Lift Chair Accessories
Nothing is better than eating in front of the TV - especially when there is an important game or program on!
Beyond that simple luxury, a tray table on your lift chair is extremely helpful. If you struggle to sit or stand but are still working, you can put your laptop and paperwork on the table in front of you so you don’t have to choose between work and safety.
The same is true for food and leisure activities like reading, knitting, and more. Tray tables for lift chairs let you go about your day without being held back by mobility or balance issues. Everything you need to do or want to enjoy can be kept close and within reach.
Lift chairs are expensive, no doubt about it - the average cost of a lift chair is hundreds of dollars above that of a standard recliner chair. Getting a furniture cover is an excellent way to extend the life of the chair, protecting the fabric and foam from stains, dust, and general wear and tear.
Getting a good cover for your lift chair is also a good idea if you have dust allergies. Because lift chairs tend to be the piece of furniture that seniors use most often, getting dust in them can be very upsetting for those with dust allergies.
If you have those allergies or you just want to preserve the life of your chair, get a nice cover that you can wash every few days. That way, you’ll be able to use it for years to come without ever seeing it wear down on you.
Tired of losing your TV remote and cell phone inside the cushions of your chair? An armchair caddy, with lots of storage space, makes it easy to have all your necessities and luxuries organized and within reach.
These products are easy to find, typically fit any lift chair, and are also very affordable. Even if you don’t think you absolutely need one, it might be worth it to buy an armchair caddy just for the sake of convenience!
You won’t actually use this one on your lift chair. Rather, you’ll use it to instantly turn any standard chair into a lift chair! Simply place the stand assist device in a chair or on a bench/couch and sit on it. When you’re ready to stand, the device will gently lift you to your feet at the press of a button.
You can use a stand assist device on your office chair, dining room chairs, couch- even a porch swing! These devices are much more affordable than a full lift chair recliner, and they can be moved around from place to place to fit your needs. If you already have a lift chair and want to be able to safely use other chairs, this is the accessory for you!
Stand assist devices come in many shapes and sizes, but for this article, we’ll focus on the ones that work the same as lift chairs. These devices are great for seniors, promoting an increased sense of independence and personal safety.
Best Lift Chair Accessories
Best Lift Chair Tray Tables
This simple tray table is an excellent choice for work, leisure, dining, and more. It is height-adjustable, letting any senior find the perfect setting for them. One of the more useful design features of this tray table is its legs.
The table has two legs made of smooth metal instead of the more common 4-legged design. This makes it simultaneously stable and easy to slide forward and back. So, when you’re ready to stand up, you can effortlessly push the table forward and out of your way. When you sit back down, you don’t have to strain or “scoot” the sable- simply pull it in gently.
The Table Mate II also has an extra-wide surface, large enough to hold anything you need it to. Finally, it has a cupholder that is attached to the side of the table rather than being built into the table itself. That means you don’t have to sacrifice table space to have your beverage nearby!
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This table is perfect for lift chairs and users who value the ultimate in both convenience and safety. Once you get it into place, you never have to move it again because the table can swivel toward you and away from you with a gentle push. It’s there when you need it, and out of the way when you don’t. Instead of using multiple legs, this table is mounted to a pole and base- the pole allows it to swivel and the base keeps it completely stable.
Furthermore, the Signature Life table has a safety handle at the top of the pole that you can use to assist you in standing and sitting. While your lift chair raises and lowers you, you can use the safety handle to stay balanced. It’s the perfect tray table for any senior who has advanced mobility and balance issues!
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Best Lift Chair Covers
This excellent recliner cover is designed to keep dust, spills, and pet hair off of your expensive recliner. It’s affordable and reversible, and it comes in 11 different color combinations. It attaches securely to any recliner (available in both medium and large) and won’t slip/come loose when you move or recline.
The fabric on the Ashley River seat cover has a great look to it- it’s a bit like the texture of leather you’d see on a luxury car, with a diamond pattern that runs throughout. The only true downside of this seat cover is that the fabric won’t hold to leather. If your lift chair has leather upholstery, it will slip and slide like crazy- making it very frustrating for leather chair owners. Outside of that, though, this stylish reversible seat cover should serve you well for years!
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Most chair covers lay over the chair and are secured with elastic straps. The Sure Fit Slipcover, however, is made from spandex and polyester- it's sleek and form-fitting, delivering 100% coverage. If you’re looking to update the look of your chair and cover up faded fabric, this is the way to do it. It’s like buying a brand new chair!
This cover might take a few minutes to get on and off (much like the fitted sheet on your mattress), but you’ll never have to worry about it slipping off or sliding around underneath you. It fits tight as a glove and will have your chair looking great for years to come!
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Best Armchair Caddies for Lift Chairs
This caddy has 6 different pockets and is large enough to lay secure over even the thickest of armrests. Available in 26 different colors, the Joywell Armchair caddy is the best of the best- it’s simple, affordable, and has a soft suede surface.
The biggest risk with armchair caddies is that they can tend to slip off the chair due to gravity. That isn’t the case with the Joywell armchair caddy. As long as it’s securely tucked into the chair, you won’t ever see it falling to the floor.
The 6 different pockets allow for extremely convenient and organized access to your things- whether that be your phone, tablet, keys, or TV remote- at all times. It’s comfortable, efficient, and it comes in enough colors to fit any lift chair or decor style- what’s not to love?
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The underside of the Cosmos sofa armrest is covered with a non-slip material. It grips onto the fabric of the chair and doesn’t let go without a fight. That’s important for lift chairs- because the entire chair moves up and down and tilts at a slight angle, you need an armchair caddy that can handle the movement.
The 5 side pockets on this caddy are nothing special- they work well and are large enough to hold various items and devices. What makes this armchair caddy special, however, is the front pocket area. It has a cupholder that is perfect for chairs that don’t have one built-in, and a second, slimmer pocket that’s ideal for a bottle opener, pen, or another small object.
If you’re looking for an armchair caddy that can do it all, you’ve found it in the Cosmos Sofa Armrest. It’s functional, effective, and will last for years without failing you. It’ll keep everything you need within arm’s reach- without falling off the armrest every few days.
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Best Stand Assist Devices
The Up-Easy is a rare product for one big reason: it truly lives up to its name. No matter what chair you want to sit in, the Carex Up-Easy makes doing so a breeze. It has a weight limit of 350 pounds and can be easily attached to any chair or bench.
The Carex Up-Easy is completely self-powered; it requires no batteries, uses no motors, and needs no assistance. It uses a hydro-pneumatic gas spring (much like the ones in office chairs) to adapt to the weight of the user. The gas spring takes 70% of your bodyweight upon itself, leaving your muscles and hips to carry the remaining 30%. Compare that to the significant amount of energy and muscle that the elderly need to use to stand and the benefits are clear. You can stand and sit gently and smoothly, without experiencing pain or discomfort.
This product is a great solution for anyone who has knee osteoarthritis; it takes the pressure off of the joints and allows for easy sitting/standing. Beyond that, this lift assist device is helpful for any senior. It provides support from below, which has been proven to help seniors stand and sit just as effectively and painlessly as younger people.
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It may cost nearly $600, but the SitnStand Smart Portable Rising Seat is worth every penny. It transforms a regular recliner into a fully functioning lift chair. If you cannot afford an expensive lift chair or don’t want to give up the standard recliner you already use, this is the way to go.
This battery-powered seat cushion fills with air at the touch of a button - with enough muscle behind it to lift a 265 pounds person straight out of their seat. It weighs just 6.6 pounds and uses a rechargeable battery - this means you can take it almost anywhere with you. If you travel often and want to retain the ability to sit and stand safely, this is the best solution for you!
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Conclusion
Getting the right accessories for your lift chair can make a huge difference. It could be as simple as an armchair caddy, as luxurious as a swiveling tray table, or it could be a lifting device that converts a standard chair into a medically beneficial lift chair! The thing that all lift chair accessories have in common is that they make lift chairs easier and more efficient to use.
Which accessory from our list was your favorite? Do you have any questions about which accessories fit your particular lift chair? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below, and thanks as always for reading!
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