http://www.farborg.com Guide to choosing chairs for the older people

1. Guide to choosing chairs for the older people As an Occupational Therapist, providing a suitable chair that meets your needs is an important part of our plan to keep people independent. Choosing chairs is unique to each person and consideration must be made for every factor to ensure a riser recliner chair is used effectively. Not everyone needs a riser recliner, this guide can show you how to improve your independence even if you don’t invest in a riser recliner. Getting the correct size of chair is important to ensure your comfort, mobility and postural support. Does your current chair feel too low? Generally, if your knees are raised above your hips the chair is probably too low for you. Making a chair higher can make it easier to get off, more comfortable and help to ensure the risk of falls is reduced. To establish the correct height, measure the distance from the floor to the back of the knee when you are sitting. The compressed height of the chair should be the same measurement. Does your current chair feel too high? If your knees look lower than your hips your chair may be too high for you. You could lower it by removing castors or legs but be careful not to lower it too far. Is your current chair comfortable? There may be many reasons why your chair feels uncomfortable. Sometimes it may just not feel soft enough. Although it can be tempting to add a cushion into your chair it is important to remember this changes the height of the chair. Falls risks are higher as the cushion could slip out of the chair and the arm rest height is also reduced, making it harder to push yourself up into standing. If the chair is not comfortable, its best to look for a new chair. If you think you posture is not well supported or are at risk from pressure sores, you must refer to your health professional such as an Occupational Therapist. Has your medical condition changed? Refer to your health professional before buying a chair, they will be able to advise on what chair would be suitable for you.

2. Next steps if you feel you need a Riser Recliner You may be able to access a chair from your local authority via a referral to social care Occupational Therapy. However, there is not consistent provision across the country and you may be decide to look to purchase a chair privately. Farborg manufacture a range of Riser Recliner chairs in the UK. Farborg have sales representatives across the country who are happy to bring a chair out to you and help you decide if Riser Recliner is the right choice for you. You can access more information here Riser recliner chairs Jenny Rolfe OT Jenny is a senior occupational therapist. She qualified in 1997 and completed her MSc in Neuro-rehabilitation in 2007. She has worked in Neurological Rehabilitation at the Battle Hospital in Reading, and the Rivermead Rehabilitation Centre in Oxford which became part of the Oxford Centre for Enablement in 2000. She moved into the Specialist Disability Service at the OCE from where she joined the Oxford MND Centre in January 2007. Farborg, Charter House, Barrington Road, Orwell, Cambs, SG8 5QP Tel 01223 857800 www.farborg.com