If you have an elderly person in your home or someone with mobility issues, then it is more than essential to ensure that the furniture around your home suits their seating. What happens most of the time is that an elderly person sits on the sofa/recliner comfortably for as long as they want, but faces a hard time getting back up, which is what you must make ensure before buying a sofa for your home.
A person who sits and gets up properly without having any ache in their lower back or hips or shoulders will not have to face any kind of problem, but with elderly people, this comes with the age. There are a couple of factors which you must consider while purchasing a sofa for your home, which is not only comfortable for you but for your elderly members too.
Because it is not that only the old ones can get pained while getting back up, it is you too, who can feel the same amount of pain if you sink down on your sofa rather than comfortably sitting on it. These factors will help you in making a better choice for your home.
Below Are Some of The Factors You Should Look At:
Way of Sitting.
Apart from getting the perfectly fitted furniture, make sure that the elderly person knows how to properly sit up and down on the sofa. In most cases, their physiotherapists can guide them in the proper way to sit up and down, especially if they are less mobile or even if they have an injury.
If you are not guided, then simply rest your arms firmly on the armrest of the sofa, slide towards the edge and slowly get up. You can also ask someone for help, but you can also try this method, if you are having a walking aid or stick, aim firstly to get up from the sofa and stand in an upright position, then take your stick and start walking.
Firmness
A sofa should be soft but mostly firm. Most of the sofas we see online or offline in stores tend to sink in when we sit on them, much like a bean bag, which you do not want in a sofa, especially for elderly people.
Firmness in a sofa is essential even for normal people, as you can easily sink in it, but will face numerous problems getting back up. Problems like neck, shoulder, lower back pain, not suitable for people with low mobility, injuries, etc. which is why to make sure to check how firm your sofa is before buying.
Armrest
Because you will need the support of something while getting up, armrests should be sturdy enough. The armrest should not only be sturdy but also high, enough so that when you get up the only pressure you feel on is your arms and not your shoulders. While you are in the store, make sure to sit on the sofa, and test that your shoulders are not moving up or going down while you are sitting, and getting up.
Height of the Seat
The seat of a chair or a sofa should always be high and not low, especially for someone with mobility issues. If your sofa has lower chairs, then the chances of lower back pain, knee pain, and ankle pain can increase causing problems.
Whereas with a highchair, not only the older person can sit properly but can get up with less or no strain at all. These 4 factors are quite essential to figure out while you are buying your sofa. Make sure that you personally go to the store and try each sofa out before finalizing one.
Now let us Have A Look at Some of The Sofas Which Are Suited for Elderly People.
Serta with Neverwet Technology
This sofa is made with 100% polyester with measurements of 11 inches in length, 11 inches in width, and 6 inches in height. It features an artificial leather fabric with a non-slip feature and the Neverwet technology which absorbs any liquid that you might spill on your sofa in seconds, having that extra absorption.
You can wash your sofa 50 times and it’s color will not fade and it will absorb every stain that might have been there. It includes pockets in its armrests which are perfect to keep remotes and are sturdy enough for you to rest your arm and stand up. It is stiff even when you sit down, which means you will not be bouncing off rather you will be sitting comfortably.
- INCLUDES: (1) Serta faux leather furniture protector
- MATERIALS: 100% Polyester
- FEATURES: Non-slip Faux Leather fabric face treated with NeverWet ultra-hydrophobic stain repel and release. Superior liquid and stain repel...
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Wipe clean with damp cloth
Vonanda Modern Couch
Available in Light Brown and Dark Grey colors, this is a 3-seater sofa made of Linen. The sofa comes in a high-density foam cushion which is wrapped in linen fabric, giving you comfortable seating with a soft touch.
It has four detachable, wooden legs made from the Eucalyptus tree and covered in selected fabric. The armrest is filled with a high-density sponge so that when you lay your arms on it, they do not sink down, and be stiff in one place.
The sofa is made keeping in mind the Ergonomic design, so that your posture is correct, and not tilted in any way, and is wear-resistant too. Not only comfort, but this sofa is always quite affordable, with the soft foam, linen fabric, wooden legs, comes at an affordable price, and comes in excellent prints too.
- 🌵【LIVING LARGE IN SMALL PLACES】Our sofa's is uniquely packaged for ease of shipping and unpacking. You will be pleasantly surprised to find...
- 🌵【CONTEMPORARY STYLE】A marriage of comfort and contemporary allure, the eye-catching Vonanda sofa is sure to lend style to your living room...
- 🌵【EFFORTLESSLY COMFORTABLE】Vonanda sofa couch is made of the linen fabric. It is not easy to fade, difficult to pilling, and good wrinkle...
- 🌵【Robust & Durable】The Vonanda Sofa is founded atop four detachable natural finish metal legs, its clean-lined frame is crafted from Eucalyptus...
GDF Studio Armchair
This is a charcoal tufted recliner armchair perfect for a single person to sit and usually comes along with its sofa set or separately too. It measures 34.75 inches in length, 28 inches in width, and 41.25 inches in height, along with 20.50 inches of seat width, 21.50 inches of the seat depth, 19 inches of seat height, and 24.75 inches of arm height.
Being tufted you can put this armchair in any room for visual appeal, with charcoal color and brown buttons sewed at the edges. The sturdy shape and the back of this recliner provide excellent support, especially for the old people to sit, and the armrest with the cushion gives comfortable seating. You may have to assemble this chair upon arriving but is perfect for every purpose.
- Dimensions: 35" W x 29.5" D x 40.5" H | Weight: 70 lbs | Seat Back Dimensions: 22.25" H x 20.5" W | Seat Dimensions: 20.5" W, 21.5" D, & 19" floor to...
- Sit in Comfort and Style - Sink into the incredible comfort of this club chair recliner and you won't want to get back up. With its sophisticated...
- Reclines so You Can Relax - Been on your feet at work all day. Maybe you just fancy an afternoon nap. Then lean back and take the weight off in this...
- Traditional Design, Trending Color - Inspired by antique style, our wingback recliner features tufted fabric, nailhead trim, and a high back that...
Startogoo 3 Piece Sectional
Measuring 104 inches in length, 72 inches in width, and 35 inches in height, this is a three-set sofa/sectional with an ottoman and chaise lounge. It includes a seating capacity of 7 people and has a sleek, classic look which you can put both inside and outside your home.
It features a suede fabric cover with sleek lines – a look that can go on every piece of furniture, giving it both a modern and classic look. There consists of spring cushions seated on a wooden base, providing sturdy support to sit, and is resistant to dirt, spills, wear, and tear.
When you have guests in your house, you can use the pull-out sleeper for more space to sit and can even convert your sectional into a chaise. Its cushions are compact, detachable, and provide great comfort.
- [MODERN SECTIONAL] This modern sectional sofa has a classic design that will never go out of style. The muted taupe upholstery and sleek lines blend...
- [DURABLE & FUNCTIONAL] Manufactured with high-quality wood with spring reinforced cushions, the sturdy build provides the utmost seating support....
- [COMFORTABLE & COZY ] Upholstered in tough polyester blend fabric with cushions featuring thick foam cushion padding for prime relaxation. when you or...
- [SPACE SAVING DESIGN] This sectional couch set is compact enough to be able to fit into your apartment, loft;This Sectional Sleeper Sofa is a modern...
Cugbo Loveseat
This loveseat’s cushion is made up of three different sponges, all high resilience provides comfort at its best, and does not let you sink in. It measures 51 inches in length, 33.5 inches in width, and 28 inches in height, with a seating capacity of 2 people.
This sofa can take a load of a maximum of 600 pounds and can easily assemble this sofa within 20 minutes with no tools. The sofa will not break from the side or middle, is made up of linen fabric that is soft providing the best comfort, and easy to clean any stains.
It comes with a blue sofa cover which you can easily pull off and give for cleaning or replacement. It features an Ergonomic design for correct posture, wide armrests so that you can sit and get back up with less pressure, and turnip-shaped legs that are made of wood and will never crack.
- [Never Sink] CUGBO's loveseat sofa cushion is made of high-resilient sponge, which is composed of three layers of sponges with different densities,...
- [Removable Sofa Cover] The sofa cover is made of linen fabric, which is breathable, soft and easy to clean, and the sofa cover can be removed for...
- [Sturdy Hardwood Frame] CUGBO's two-seater sofa can withstand a weight of 600 pounds, and the sofa will never disconnect from the middle.
- [Easy Assembly] No tools needed and easy-to-follow instructions to assemble. You can assemble the sofa easily within 20 mins.
Christopher Modern Recliner
Available in more than 7 colors, you can buy this recliner has a single piece, as twins, or as 2 pieces set. It is made with 100% polyester and the legs are made from Birch tree. This recliner measures 34.25 inches in depth, 27.25 inches in width, and 38.7 inches in height, the seat measures 21.5 inches in depth, 20 inches in width, and 25 inches in height, it can hold up to 300lbs.
This recliner provides a classic modern touch to a medieval-style and can be put in any room. For you to get the maximum comfort and support, this recliner comes with a tufted back and an extra padded cushion. You can even buy a 2-piece set if you want for two people to sit comfortably, you do need to assemble it but do not require any tools.
- MID-CENTURY MODERN: Blending together iconic tapered legs with a smooth upholstery, our recliner offers a mid-century look to your lounge space. With...
- BUTTON TUFTED WAFFLE STITCH: The button-tufted stitching in the backrest offers an extra touch of sophistication that enhances its contemporary...
- UPHOLSTERED: Our recliner is generously upholstered, giving any room a refined appearance. This provides a smooth, immaculate texture for this piece...
- BIRCH WOOD LEGS: This recliner is supported by beautifully tapered birch wood legs which offer an attractive look and durable structure. Its fine...
Rimiking Leather Recliner
Measuring 22.17 inches in length, 34.25 inches in width, and 38.58 inches in height, this recliner is made with high-quality leather. It has a solid frame that is durable and a thick sponge in it gives the extra comfort you need.
This recliner features two adjustments that are perfect for everyone including the elderly, first is the adjustable footrest, wherein you can rest your feet while relaxing on your chair which most of us need to do after either a long day at work or just for fun.
The second thing is a reclining back wherein you can recline your chair as much as you want, and make it stiff at one point, however, we will not recommend the second feature for the elderly as they might suffer from neck pain.
Conclusion
There are many varieties of sofas, sectionals, and recliners available for the elderly or people with mobility issues. Some are specifically designed only for them whereas some provide the same sturdiness, comfort, and durability, but not just for the elderly for everyone.
You can choose from whichever store, brand, you want to, just lookout for a couple of factors mentioned above, keeping those factors in mind, not only the elderly but even you will feel comfortable while sitting on your sofa.
Sinking down on your sofa or sectional is not only bad for people with mobility issues or the elderly, but also for everyone, as sitting down is not the difficult part, the difficult part is to get back up, it is then when you start feeling pain in your lower back, shoulders, neck, etc.
This is the reason why it is important for you to look at all the factors before choosing the correct sofa, sectional, recliner. The best way to buy these items is to choose one brand and buy a set of sofas or sectional and two recliners, some even come with ottomans, or pockets, or headrests, many other additional features.