April 29, 2024 | Natalie Webber Riser recliner vs care chairs: which is best for care homes? If you’re looking to buy supportive seating for a service user or relative in a care home, the chances are you’re probably wondering what different types of healthcare chairs exist and which is most suitable. In this guide, we’re going to explain the differences between a riser recliner chair and a care chair, but we won’t leave you there! We’ll also give you specific advice about what level of specialist seating is normally required in a range of scenarios. What is the difference between a riser recliner chair and a care chair? A riser recliner chair, like the Ashore Carey, has an electric lift and recline function and is designed to support a person who has limited mobility to stand up. A range of postural needs can be accommodated with basic lateral support and tilt-in-space features, to name a couple. A care chair, like the Ashore Morwell, has a recline only function and typically offers an even greater range of positioning features and adjustments for users who are more immobile, transferring using a hoist and potentially spending all day in the chair. It probably won’t surprise you that, given the top considerations for care homes buying recliner chairs, a professional seating assessment for each service user is essential when you’re looking at a potential purchase. A riser recliner chair is likely to be best where: Service user is ambulant or semi-ambulant i.e. they are able to transfer to and from the chair independently or with some standing assistance e.g. using a Sara Stedy Service users who are likely to benefit from a riser recliner chair include those with: Frailty Arthritis Motor impairment from minor to moderate stroke Multiple sclerosis Popular models: ASHORE Carey ASHORE Haven ASHORE Porter Here, we can clear up a common misconception that a riser recliner chair can’t also be a porter chair (i.e. wheeled from room to room). It can – because that’s exactly what the ASHORE Porter riser recliner chair does! A care chair is best is likely to be best where: Service user is non-ambulant i.e. they are not able to transfer to and from a chair independently or with a stand aid, and are lifted using a full-body patient hoist Service user has complex postural, pressure care and positioning requirements Service users who are likely to benefit from a care chair include those with: Advanced dementia Motor neurone disease (MND) Huntingdon’s disease Agitation and/or wandering Life limiting conditions Popular models: ASHORE Moby ASHORE Foster ASHORE Morwell Get in touch Got a question or want to send us a message? Let’s talk.