Key Features of a Rise Recliner
A rise recliner can be life changing, but the magic of one of these chairs isn’t down to any one single aspect – it’s a result of a cleverly designed combination of several key features.
Imagine your perfect chair like a recipe: when these key features are selected and put together in a way that suits you, that’s when your ideal chair is created!
While many different combinations are available ‘off the shelf’, to suit the majority of customers, there’s also the option of ‘made to measure’ for a more bespoke chair to meet unique needs including your height, weight, healthcare needs and, of course, the size, shape and style and accessibility of your home, too.
So, what are the key features of a rise and recline chair and what should you be looking out for when choosing one?
Motor
Rise recline chairs come with a choice of single or dual motor … and no, that has nothing to do with speed at which they recline!
A single motor riser recliner has one motor which drives the leg raise and the back recline in one simple motion – so, as the leg rest reaches its fully horizontal position, the back rest reclines to its fully reclined position.
With a dual motor chair, two separate motors control each movement independently, giving a greater range of positions, from sitting upright with the legs fully raised (ideal for resting tired or swollen legs) to a fully reclined position for optimum relaxation.
Movement
Driven by the motor (or motors) there are additional movement options available, namely ‘tilt in space’ and ‘wallhugger’.
With a ‘tilt in space’ rise recliner chair, a 90-degree seated position is maintained as the chair reclines, providing continued support for the legs, hips and back throughout the motion. This style of recliner also enables the legs to be raised above the level of the hips, which is ideal for anyone with poor circulation, leg swelling or oedema.
A ‘wallhugger’, as the name suggests, needs only a few inches of clearance between the chair and the wall, as it glides forwards over its base whilst reclining, allowing a fully reclined position to be achieved even where space is compromised.
Additionally, some chairs can be built with an extra motor to power the headrest and lumbar regions, providing a further level of adjustability where it’s required.
Support
Another of the key features of a rise recliner is the support that it can provide – whether that’s for the head, neck, lumbar region, back, legs or even arms. Whatever your individual healthcare or comfort needs, a rise and recline chair can offer support exactly where you need it! This makes it a much safer and more comfortable option than a standard easy chair for anyone with who is likely to be seated for extended periods of time, or those with limited muscular strength or control. With adjustable cushions, support can be adapted and personalised. Clever design means that rise and recline chair cushions offer much more support than your average chair cushion, reducing the risk of slumping or falling as well as providing pressure relief. Because there’s so much choice available, there’s a lot to say about the different types and styles of cushions available on rise recliners … so much so that we’ve written an article all about them! You can read it here.
Remote control
Of course, there’s no point in having all these fabulous features if they can’t be easily operated! And, while sophisticated technology can sometimes be difficult to use, a riser recliner couldn’t be simpler. They’re designed with easy-to-use remote controls featuring large, clear buttons – and they’re always within arm’s reach, safely attached to the chair so they can’t get lost!
Obviously, the more adjustability your chair has (such as dual motor, or powered headrest/lumbar adjustability) the more buttons the chair’s remote will have – so this could be a consideration when you’re choosing your chair. Dementia patients, for example, will benefit from a more streamlined, simple control for ease of use.
Fabric
In addition to these features, the look of your chair is an important consideration, too. We want you to love everything about your new chair – you don’t want the most comfortable piece of furniture in your home to stick out like a sore thumb!
All of our chairs come with a range of fabric and colour choices (including some with Shelly leather) and some, such as the Pride Dorchester and Cosi Chair Ambassador even have coordinating sofas, so your furniture can match and guests can sit in comfort too! You can also opt to add matching seat covers, back covers and headrest covers to protect the chair and to keep it looking like new for longer.
Healthcare chairs have an extra range of fabrics on offer including washable and wipeable fabrics, those with antibacterial properties, and fabrics designed especially for breathability and temperature regulation.
Accessories
As if all of this wasn’t enough there are additional accessories available to enhance your comfort and enjoyment too! Our experts can advise you on optional extras such as integrated reading lamps, heat and massage features or USB chargers.
As you can see, there are many features to consider when choosing your rise and recliner. It can feel overwhelming but please be reassured that our chair experts have been matching customers with their perfect chair for many years. We’ll help you to prioritise the features that you want and need and help to match these requirements with your budget. Give us a call on 01283 688002 or contact us via our website, and we’ll start the search!