StrokeSurvivorBlog

It’s been about 5 weeks since we got the new lift chair. Steve is able to fully recline in the 3-way positional chair, so he can take naps with his legs fully elevated. It’s much easier for him to get up out of the chair with the lift mechanism, so that part is working out well.

The fabric of the lift chair is easy to clean and the color matches perfectly with my existing furniture. That’s a relief because I redecorated our family room a few months before Steve’s stroke. I looked at actual samples of the fabric before the chair was ordered. To make sure I had a good color match, I brought in arm covers from my other furniture to compare them to.

There are a couple of things that the supplier will have to take care of, though. One of the buttons on the lift chair back came loose and is hanging by a string. The button-tufted back is a new model and it’s beautiful, but I was very disappointed to see that type of defect so soon.

The padding of the chair is stiff, and it’s not as comfortable as our other furniture. If it’s too cushy, however, you’d sink sink down too far and it would be hard to get up.

The other issue I have is with the noise of the lift mechanism. It’s making a lot of crunching noise as the chair lifts and reclines with Steve in it. Our supplier said it’s not supposed to make that much noise…maybe a squeak or two, so he is sending out a factory rep to look it over and take care of these things.

I like the color and style of this chair, but if I could do it over, I would buy a infinite positional lift chair. The reason is that the foot rest on our chair comes up to a certain level and then the back starts reclining automatically. But sometimes Steve wants to sit up with his legs up higher…it’s easier to read and watch TV that way. On an infinite positional chair the foot rest and back operate separately. Of course, this type of chair is more expensive.

Overall, the chair is working out well. It reduces the risk of falling, and Steve is able to stand up without my help. I also like the fact that the chair reclines, so he can take naps in a more comfortable position, and I can help him with leg exercises when he’s lying down. The only other place was upstairs on the bed.

Medicare pays for 80% of the lift mechanism, and our supplement insurance pays for the other 20%. That only amounts to about $340, so we were responsible for the balance of the $1150 lift chair. I’m still waiting for reimbursement from Medicare, and I don’t know how long that will take.

Note: Please read the updated post on our lift chair reimbursement and repairs.