Lift Recliner chair info please

[MeggerasMa]

Looking for reliable site or vendor to buy a lift recliner for my DF who has struggled with mobility issues for years. At 89, that tough old marine is still insisting he "can do it myself", but reality tells another tale. I've priced them through medical supply companies, as well as some big name retailers. It seems to be that the retail store will cost me about $899 before tax and shipping. The med supply places are more. I know Medicare sometimes covers the motor, but at this point in time, I just need to figure out where to purchase rather quickly and am willing to absorb the expense. If anyone has experience with this item, I'd appreciate any tips you can give regarding brands, warranties I need to look for, etc. Thank you all in advance. I am truely appreciative of all the beneficial info I've gotten here on the Boards.
Oh, and it needs to be vinyl (or leather-like/cleanable) as there are other physical issues involved here. Thanks again.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I'd check at the local assisted living facilities, craigslist, etc. They are often only used for a short time. My mom has my grandma's. It was used for just 2 months. If mom had better knees, we would have sold it.

 

[WishIwerethere]

I saw a very inexpensive one at Sam's Club -- I don't remember the exact price but far less than $899. It was near the pharmacy at the front of my store -- not in the furniture section.

 

[minnie1928]

Where in PA are you? We bought one for my dad from a store in York, I can't recall the name but I can get it if I need to.

Also, is your dad tall? My dad is tall and they make a different line of chairs for "big & tall" guys. He used his chair until he went into a nursing home about a year later. Mom continued to use the chair for a few years, until the motor started having issues. She's actually looking to get rid of it right now and replace it with a normal recliner.

 

[abmitch01]

my patients have bought them at Walmart ( I think online) and Boscovs and even furniture stores and have gotten much better deals and more comfortable chairs than what are often found at med supply stores. The prices are lower so it tends to come out cheaper even though medicare pays part of the motor if you go through a med supply place.

If you have time to try them out, I've noticed some recline further back than others. Also, you could try calling local churches and hospices, they often have unwanted med equipment. I second looking on Craigslist, so many people only use them for a short time so you can get good deals.

good luck and I'm sorry you have a family member who needs one of these

 

[MeggerasMa]

Thank you all for the quick replies. I will check out the nearest Sam's club tomorrow. Craigslist scares the dayslights out of me. I would hope most people are trustworthy, but have experienced the opposite once and hesitate to go that route. We are about 1 1/2 hours away from York, but do appreciate your information. My dad is not tall or big, so a regular size chair will do. It is good to get confirmation that a retail merchant is an viable $ option as compared to med supply (nothing against them, but I do need to be cost efficient).
I hope this doesn't come across as complaining about the situation at hand. I've been blessed with great parents for alot longer than most people and am just trying to get the most for my hard earned dollars. The chair will be used because my dear mom has other leg issues and has just broken her foot! You know what they say about when it rains. . . So this is an "investment" in my mind. I only hope they don't fight about who gets to use it. Maybe I could get a good 2 for 1 deal? Just kidding. Well thanks again. Any additional thoughts will be appreciated.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I wish you were closer! We have one that was my granddaddys that is like brand new that we don't know what to do with. He passed away last year right after he bought it. My mom tried to sell it for like 300, and but no one that she knows needs one. I am not sure, but I would think the shipping on that would be a lot.

 

[At World's End]

I don't know if you have tried this already, but sometimes putting the recliner up on a platform really makes it alot easier to get out of. My mom was hospitalized for a week, and being bedbound for that period really weakened her muscles. She absolutely could not get out of her favorite chair. She ended up in the hospital again for 3 weeks, and went to a skilled nursing facility after that. In the facility she had a recliner up on a small platform and she could get out of it much easier.

We ended up building a platform out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood and one or two 4x4's. We measured the base of the recliner and had all the pieces cut to fit at Lowes. Them we just screwed them together at home. We screwed the base of the recliner to the platform so it wouldn't slide. It has made a world of difference, and it cost less than $30.

 

[abmitch01]

I've seen families do that, too and it really works

 

[minnie1928]

Thank you all for the quick replies. I will check out the nearest Sam's club tomorrow. Craigslist scares the dayslights out of me. I would hope most people are trustworthy, but have experienced the opposite once and hesitate to go that route. We are about 1 1/2 hours away from York, but do appreciate your information. My dad is not tall or big, so a regular size chair will do. It is good to get confirmation that a retail merchant is an viable $ option as compared to med supply (nothing against them, but I do need to be cost efficient).

Even if you don't go thru a med supply company, you might want to find a place in advance that can perform repairs. Mom's had hers fixed twice (the store sent a repair man), so I wouldn't rule out the possibility that you wouldn't need it fixed at some point down the road.

 

[abmitch01]

I've seen families do that, too and it really works

 

[ZachnElli]

I really don't think the lifting chairs are something scammers are interested in, so I would really look into used. We sold our grandma's after she passed away. That was before craigslist, so my parents put it in the paper, same with her wheelchair and walker.

 

[rosebud4]

Ask at medical supply stores if they have had any lease returns. Sometimes they sell medical equiptment for half the cost. Also, at 89, and you live in PA, contact the local area agency on aging. Depending on her income, she may qualify for a program called PDA(Pennsylvania Department of Aging) waiver program. This program supplies aides, supplies, and some medical equiptment to qualifing individuals. If you live close to the Pittsburgh area, Levin furniture also carries a variety of lift chairs.

 

[Sadie22]

I see these advertised used from time to time in the local newspaper. I bought one new from La-Z-Boy.

 

[disneymarie]

Looking for reliable site or vendor to buy a lift recliner for my DF who has struggled with mobility issues for years. At 89, that tough old marine is still insisting he "can do it myself", but reality tells another tale. I am truely appreciative of all the beneficial info I've gotten here on the Boards.
Oh, and it needs to be vinyl (or leather-like/cleanable) as there are other physical issues involved here. Thanks again.

VA got Daddy his chair...check into it.
Oh when he got it, silly, would not be patient to let it stand him, he got half up and then, would swing his strength into it????
Also got riser and arms for the toiler seat, walker...

 

[it's kelly]

I also saw one at Sam's club, right near the pharmacy. I think it was around $600 but it was not vinyl although maybe you can cover it with something.

 

[WishIwerethere]

I just happened to check Sam's Club online, and there are several models in the $500 to $700 range, including shipping.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/search/searchResults.jsp?searchTerm=lift chair&searchCategoryId=all

For some reason, I thought the one I saw in the store was around $398, but I may be wrong. I have no idea of the quality of any of the lift chairs at Sam's Club.

 

[dyna]

My parents was given a lift chair that was used a short time by a family member Dad did not like it because it lifted to slow the chair is now sitting in my aunts basement waiting for a family member to need it.....maybe the newer ones work faster than the 1 daddy used tho.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

If you don't want the expense of a chair you can also buy a "lift-cushion" that fits in the seat of an existing chair. They are not as expensive and might work just as well for you.

 

[MeggerasMa]

Thank you for the great ideas and responses. I probably couldn't do the build a platform idea. I'm not at all handy and DH seems to accomplish our own projects up to about 95% completion and then . . . I certainly can call some medical supply places about lease returns - Great idea! I will also check with the PA Dept on Aging - another avenue I hadn't thought of. Even the VA, maybe could give me some info. He was WWII in the Pacific, he doesn't have any service connected disability. Disneymarie - that is too cute! In dad's younger days he did use his arm strength to compensate for the spinal and joint issues, but now barely has enough to maneuver himself over a tiny (at least to me) elevation to enter the shower. But I can envision him thinking the chair would be too slow a couple years ago. Actually his pride stands in the way of many assistive devices that he could benefit from. (He tries to stay in one place while I'm around so I won't see how he struggles.)
Anyway, again my sincere thanks to all for the help.