Chair Supports
The handles on the Able Life Universal Stand can help you stand up.
If a person has trouble rising from a sitting to a standing position, chair aids can be a useful addition to their daily life.
Dr. Eliana Sanchez, a physiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Believes the chair assists are beneficial for “someone who either has some form of weakness or not enough core strength or hip strength to move from sit to stand.”
According to occupational therapist and clinical professor at Boston University Karen Marx, OT, chair assistance can “benefit, particularly if someone has pain from arthritis.”
Examined and Approved
The Universal Stand Assist from Able Life includes padded handles to help you stand up.
We advise elders who require some assistance standing to use Stander’s CouchCane.
It’s crucial to discuss your injury and potential treatment choices with your doctor before deciding which gadget will work best for you.
This will help you be more prepared to transition from sitting to standing. When looking for a chair aid, other variables to consider include weight capacity and simplicity of use.
We investigated dozens of chair aids and assessed them for their construction, dimensions, usability, weight capacity, setup, and cost.
Here are some of the top chair aids available right now.
Our Favorites
- Overall best: Amazon’s Able Life Universal Stand Assist
- Best value: Amazon’s Able Life Handy Handle
- Best Chair Assist for the Physically Handicapped: Bandwagon Portable at Amazon
- Stander CouchCane at Amazon is the best option for seniors.
- Amazon’s Carex Upeasy Seat Assist is the most portable.
- DMI Transfer Board is the best for wheelchairs on Amazon
- Able Life Auto Cane at Amazon is the best for cars.
1. Able Life Universal Stand Assist is the best overall.
Pros
- Adjustable
- Cushioned handles
- Simple to use on your own
Cons
- It could be challenging to switch seats.
- More costly than some alternatives
What claim buyers make? 81% of the more than 1,500 Amazon reviewers gave this product four or more stars.
Because it makes it simple for people to stand up and sit down, we decided that Able Life’s Universal Stand Assist was the best overall choice.
This gadget is simple to put together and has an unobtrusive design that enables it to be flush against any surface.
Depending on your preference, you can put the gadget on top of or beneath the cushions of your couch or chair.
You can easily raise yourself to a standing position by just holding onto the padded handles on either side.
Metal construction; manual assistance; 7 lb. weight; 300 lb. maximum weight support
2. Able Life Handy Handle has the best price.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Distributes weight evenly
- Simple to use
Cons
- Wants aid
- For some people, the handle size can be too tiny.
If you need assistance getting up from a sitting position to standing, Able Life’s Handy Handle is an affordable choice.
The individual providing assistance can gently pull to assist in lifting the other person into a standing position after each partner has grabbed a side of the handle.
To avoid any tearing or rubbing of the gadget against the users’ hands, the handle is made with rubber grips on either side.
Additionally, it is portable and lightweight, making it a convenient choice to bring wherever you go.
The one drawback of this technology is that it does necessitate the assistance of another person, which is something to consider based on your individual requirements.
Rubber is the primary component, and the product weights 1 lb while supporting 350 lbs.
3. Best Chair Assist for Physically Handicapped: Bandwagon
Pros
- Portable
- Budget-friendly
- Several handles
Cons
- Can be challenging to assemble
- Some surfaces cause bases to slip
Anyone recovering from surgery or dealing with physical disabilities would benefit greatly from the Bandwagon Portable Chair Assist.
Since the gadget is portable, you may use it wherever in your house as needed.
The apparatus may be placed up close to a chair or sofa, and thanks to its solid construction, you can grab one of the three accessible handles to help you stand up.
The device’s many handles are an added benefit because they provide you with a variety of grip alternatives for however you wish to stand.
The product is also more reasonably priced when compared to some of the alternatives on the market, making it the best option for anyone on a tight budget.
Metal construction; manual assistance; weight of 5.9 pounds; capacity of 300 pounds
What Professionals Say
The footwear a person wears is another element that is really essential.
When they stand up and sit down, you should check to see if they are wearing supportive shoes, advises Dr. Karen Marx, an occupational therapist and clinical professor at Boston University.
4. Seniors should use a Stander CouchCane.
Pros
- Variable height
- A choice of tray attachment
- Includes a carrying bag
Cons
- More costly than some alternatives
- Heavy
The Stander CouchCane is useful for helping people get from sitting to standing, but it also takes care of other needs that a person could have.
A four-pocket organizer pouch that comes with the cane can be used to store things like glasses, TV remote controls, or cell phones.
For an additional fee, you can buy a swiveling tray that attaches directly to the top of the cane and serves as the ideal portable table.
Due to the cane’s height and base adjustments, it can fit a range of couches and chairs around a house.
Users who need assistance balancing will find it to be especially safe because it can be secured underneath a couch or sofa.
Steel is the primary component, and the product weights 20 lbs while supporting 250 lbs.
5. The Carex Upeasy Seat Assist is most portable.
Pros
- Portable
- Comfortable
- Simple to use
Cons
- Not applicable to all chairs
- No handle for supplemental support
An individual can rise up from a seated position using this small manual lifting cushion.
As the user stands up, the hydropneumatic gas spring in the chair progressively releases, pushing the seat up to help you stand up.
The device should only be used on firm-backed chairs or sofas for best results. For softer surfaces like recliners and soft chairs, the product is not advised.
This gadget, which weighs only eight pounds and can be utilized in a variety of settings, is simple to carry around with you wherever you go. The chair’s cover can also be washed in a machine.
It is made of polyester and has a hydropneumatic gas spring. It weighs 7.9 pounds and can support 300 pounds.
6. DMI Transfer Board is the best for wheelchairs.
Pros
- Available in a variety of sizes and fashions
- Consists of grip handles
- Portable
Cons
- For some, the wooden slab feels overly thin.
- Not as slick a surface for slipping
The DMI Transfer Board can help you easily transition from one place to your wheelchair.
There are four various sizes available for this board, so you may pick the one that best suits your requirements.
Additionally, it has built-in handles that the user may hold onto while they transition from their wheelchair to another surface or vice versa.
However, the business has also produced a board without handles that can simply be used to glide from seat to seat if you’re not seeking for a handle alternative.
Place one end of the board on the wheelchair seat and the other end on another surface to use it.
The individual can then move to the new position by simply sliding over the board.
Plastic and bariatric wood are the product’s materials. A manual assist, it weighs 1 lb and can support 440 lbs.
7. Able Life Auto Cane is ideal for vehicles.
Pros
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Simple to use
Cons
- Possibly not compatible with all automobiles
- Can be unstable
The Able Life Auto Cane is the transportable option that will aid you out of any car seat so you don’t have to fight to get in or out of your car.
On the rear of the door frame, there is a U-shaped door striker latch that the foldable cane fits into. Once you’ve inserted yourself, you can grab the handle to help move your body into or out of the car.
This handle can support up to 300 lbs. and has a soft rubber handle that gives the user a secure grasp.
The only drawback to this device is that it only functions with U-shaped door striker locks, so before you buy it, make sure your car is compatible.
Aluminum and soft rubber make up the product, which weighs 0.4 lbs and can support up to 300 lbs.
Final Conclusion
Whether you’re searching for temporary assistance after an injury or a long-term mobility solution for chronic diseases.
Chair aids are a simple and effective approach to provide functional support and independence around the house.
One of the better options available is the Able Life Universal Stand Assist (see at Amazon), which may be used independently and fits into any surface of a chair or couch.
The Carex Upeasy Seat Assist (see at Amazon) is a portable option if you’re looking for a solution that offers even more direct support. It provides an extra boost thanks to its pneumatic spring.
What a Chair Aid Should Have
Type
There are many chair aids available on the market that are made with the various patients in mind who may be looking for a tool to help them get from sitting to standing.
Whether it’s a cane, an electronic seat, or a handle, each of these tools operates differently and offers the user a range of advantages.
The chair aids should be tried out, advises Dr. Marx. It is advised to discuss which kind could work best for you with your doctor in addition to trying out other devices.
The doctor will take into account the primary reasons you are looking for a chair aid and will recommend which ones can be more advantageous than others.
Aside from that, there are both manual and electrical equipment.
Anyone who is going to provide care or assistance should think about whether they have the strength to physically adjust the chair if they don’t acquire an automated one, advises Dr. Sanchez.
The choice between manual and electric is largely up to the user, however price may have an impact because electronic devices are frequently more expensive.
Dr. Marx advises paying attention to how the gadget is positioned for the user regardless of the kind of device you select.
She advises placing the device’s handle on the dominant hand. “That will make it simpler for an elderly individual to follow directions,”
Weight Limitation
When looking into chair assistance, you might find that the manufacturers promote the weight each gadget can support.
This product’s description is crucial because when a person stands up from a sitting position, they are depending on it to support all or some of their weight.
If the client wants to help themselves up, the apparatus must be strong enough to support their weight, according to Dr. Sanchez.
Installation of the gadget can affect whether it will be able to support the weight of the user, therefore “it has to be installed correctly.”
The majority of devices come with instructions on how to set up the assistance properly and then anchor it, if that is necessary.
When purchasing a device, pay close attention to the assembly instructions and ask a professional for advice, such as an occupational therapist, if you’re not sure if it will securely support your weight or is anchored.
Home Evaluation and Training
The device’s compatibility with your daily routine at home and the training of those using and helping to use the aid are two of the most crucial considerations when buying and using chair aids.
It is crucial, according to Dr. Marx, to have an occupational therapy practitioner visit the home to provide training, observe, and offer recommendations.
Any caregiver who might provide assistance while using the aid is also included in this training, in addition to the person who will be utilizing the gadget.
The best course of action for use or safety, according to Dr. Marx, is to have a health professional visit the home and conduct an assessment.
“Training for the caregiver is equally crucial to ensure their own safety while assisting their customers.”
In these home evaluations, the practitioner may look around the entire house, from the living room to the kitchen to the bedroom.
They can then make any additional suggestions to help someone live in their house more comfortably and without running the danger of falling or getting hurt.
According to Dr. Jacobs, “the chair aid is merely one component of the household.” A house inspection is really important.
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