What Are the Best Sofa Risers for the Elderly?

Keen to put your feet up at the end of a long day? Enjoy the benefits of a sofa alongside the comfort and convenience of a reclining chair… with a sofa recliner and/or riser. It is the ultimate piece of furniture; a sofa with a leg rest, a reclining back and some can even help you stand up. What’s not to like?

What is a sofa riser?

A sofa riser is the same as a sofa recliner with one big difference: it is designed to help people stand up as well as recline. This is a great option for people with more limited mobility.

It looks like a regular settee but it is way more comfortable. One or two sections of the sofa are mechanised so you can lean back to the angle of your choice and put your feet up while you watch TV or take a nap.

Sofa recliners usually have three positions:

• A regular seat (as with a standard sofa);
• Footrest-raised with the back partially reclined;
• Full recline, so the body is supported just above a total lying down position.

Multiple positions are therefore available, ensuring a comfortable solution for everybody.

Why buy a sofa recliner or riser?

There are lots of reasons why sofa recliners and risers are popular. For one thing, they allow couples and families to use a single piece of furniture in different ways. One person may prefer to sit upright as on a traditional sofa. Someone else might prefer to put their feet up. And as for the cat…

Settee risers and recliners are helpful for those who want the benefits of a recliner chair but don’t have the space for the chair and a sofa. Being able to put your feet up is relaxing at the end of a long day and may be vital for health reasons:

• Painful feet and lower legs are more likely to heal when the legs can be elevated, as circulation tends to improve when the legs and feet are raised;
• Snoozing in a sofa riser or recliner instead of flat in a bed can reduce acid reflux or heartburn;
• Likewise, sleep apnea (when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep) is eased if people sleep in a slightly more upright position.

Best sofa recliners and risers for elderly people

Various types of settee recliner and riser are available so there’s sure to be one out there that suits your needs. Remember that they need more space than a traditional sofa, as the back reclines and the foot rest raises, so take careful measurements.

Manual Recline mechanism

As you might expect, a manual sofa recliner means the footrest and chair back are operated by hand. A lever is lifted to release the footrest, and then the user leans back until the desired position is reached.

The Mobility Furniture Company has two- and three-seaters in stock, and our made-to-measure service means you’ll have the perfectly sized sofa recliner for your living room and family – plus it will match the style of your other furnishings thanks to a wide array of upholsteries and fabrics.

Choose a back style depending on your specific needs and requirements.

For a beautiful pleated scrolled arm, consider a sofa recliner from the best-selling Surrey Collection. Available in a vast array of upholstery (including Italian leather) the furniture within this collection has no problem coping with weightier users.

Discover The Surrey Collection

The settee recliner within the Hampshire Collection has an added layer of padding on the arm and is particularly popular for people who spend a lot of time sitting down.

Discover the Hampshire Collection

If additional support is needed when sitting and standing, the Cheshire Collection sofa recliner has stylish wooden knuckles that make all the difference.

Discover the Cheshire Collection

Electric mechanism

Recline to your desired angle and put your feet up at the touch of a button. Powered by a motor, the electric mechanism allows users to enjoy more positions than a manual recliner.

The Kent two-seater rise and recline settee has the ability to rise and recline both seats individually… ensuring nobody has to compromise on getting comfortable. As it has a rise function (meaning it helps people stand up), it is VAT exempt. The Kent has a button or waterfall back, comes with a beautiful scrolled arm and is a wall hugger, so takes up less room than alternatives.

Discover Our Electric Sofa Bed

Another sofa solution with an electric mechanism is an electric sofa bed. Imagine a sofa that turns into a bed without you having to lift a finger. Actually, you do have to lift a finger, just one, to press a button on a remote control. The sofa then transforms into a bed, all by itself. When you’re ready for it to become a sofa again, just use the remote control. It could not be easier.

Added features

There are a whole range of wonderful accessories to consider when opting for a sofa riser for elderly people, including covers for the seating, arm and head areas to protect and maintain the areas that are subject to the most wear and tear. For extra pressure care support, memory foam and gel seating can be incorporated into the seat.

Built-in massage systems are essential for some people as they can help relieve pressure on painful areas of the body. For others, massage offers that little extra touch of luxury. Similarly, a therapeutic heat function benefits people for whom warmth relives painful and stiff areas; others simply relish a warm option on chilly evenings.

In today’s world, being able to charge your phone or tablet is a must, which is why many settee recliners and risers available from The Mobility Furniture Company can come with a USB charging port.

The bottom

Sofa recliners and risers share many of the benefits of a reclining chair within a wider context. As they are sofas, they can hold more people, super useful for modern living and a must-have if you need a little rest and recuperation. Plus thanks to our made-to-measure service, you can experience the exact fit and look for your living space.