A Guide to Care Chairs

For those who are unable to carry out standing transfers, and need postural management and pressure relief, a care chair provides a comfortable seating experience. Not only do care chairs provide comfort to the user, they also make it easier to use alongside a hoist. Here at Vivid Care we have a wide range of care chairs suitable for all postural and pressure needs.

1. Size

Seat measurements are crucial when it comes to choosing and using a care chair. The comfort and safety of the user is the main priority, especially if the user has or is at risk of pressure sores. The majority of our care chairs are adjustable; this then allows the user to alter the seat depth, width, height and other measurements to suit their needs.

2. Pressure Management

Various pressure relieving foams, gels and air systems can be incorporated into most care chairs. For optimum pressure distribution, the Tilt-In-Space chair is the best option. A wide range of pressure management options are available, including Watercell Technology and Intelli-Gel®.

3. Fabric

To give the chair strength and durability, vinyl is often the chosen fabric to be used over the vast majority of the chair. However, the user contact surfaces including the seat will be upholstered with a two way stretch VP material, to provide optimum pressure relief and comfort.

4. Actions & Features

• Tilt-In-Space

This enables the user to be tilted backwards in a chair whilst maintaining the position of the knees and hips, ultimately achieving a resting position. As the angle between the seat and back is set at 110 degrees, the user will not slide forward. This action is ideal for preventing the build up of pressure, as the tilting motion enables the body weight to be distributed throughout a larger area.

• Back Angle Recline

This enables a resting or napping position and is suitable for those who are able to maintain their position independently.

• Autotilt Regulated Motion

The automatic back and forth motion that this action provides is ideal for users who may be sitting in the chair for a long period of time. This is because the pressure points on the body are in continuous flux.

5. Accessories

There are a vast amount of accessories available for each individual chair to guarantee that not only the comfort of the patient is cared for, but also that life is made easier for the client. These accessories include:

• Loose Covers — A cover that can sit on the chair and when dirty, it can be removed and easily washed.

• Trays — Whether a free-standing or armrest mounted version, the tray provides practicality for the user.

We can also provide positioning aids to help increase the level of comfort for the user such as:

•  Lateral Supports — Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, this accessory is designed to help maintain good thoracic support.

• Leg Laterals — These are designed to keep the feet in position on the footboard.

• Pommels — Positioned on the front edge of the seat, pommels sit in-between the users knees, preventing legs from ‘scissoring’.

• Belt and Strap Positioners — To provide greater support, various straps and belts can be provided.

The various headrests help support the user’s neck and head:

• Soft Pillow Headrest — The deep, ultra soft Dacron pillow conforms to the shape of the users head and shoulders proving care and comfort.

• Profiled Soft Pillow Headrest — Designed to provide support and comfort to the shoulders, neck and head, this soft contoured pillow will improve the chair experience for the user.

• Universal Foam/Cushioned Headrest — Providing lateral head control, this headrest is available in various depths.

• Neckrest — This head support is only available on a few of our chairs and has a deeper profile than the foam headrests.

We are delighted to work alongside Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists or any other professionals to maximise the comfort for our clients. Our assessment team are able to carry out free ‘no obligation’ seating assessments, either in our extensive showroom or on site at the client’s own home, care home, or even at the hospital. Each of our Assessors have many years experience and specialist knowledge. We even have our own in-house physiotherapist!

For more information about our Care Chairs, take a look at our website or fill in our online form. Or if you want to speak to one of the Assessment Division team, contact us direct on 01423 799960. For more information on care chairs and how to measure clients for them, download our free seating eBook.