How to Choose the Best Recliners for Seniors

photo of a woman thinking about getting a zero gravity chair

 

People of all ages love to relax in a comfortable recliner. For older adults who may be spending more time at home during the day, finding the right recliner for comfort, style, and overall well-being can make all the difference in the world.

While there are many types of recliners on the market that may appear suitable, today we’re exploring how to choose the best recliners for seniors. From design to bonus features, learn which recliner chairs for seniors you should be considering and how they could positively impact your lifestyle!

Choosing the Best Recliners for Seniors

As we get older, we find that how our body responds to different things changes. For example, what used to be your favorite recliner could be lacking in proper support and actually be one of the most common causes of back pain you’re overlooking. Or perhaps you’re now learning how to navigate common age-related diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Finding the best recliners for seniors can have a major impact on comfort and overall health. Some of the most important factors to consider when choosing recliners for seniors include:

  • What type of recliner you are comfortable in
  • What recliner size do you require to suit your needs
  • Benefits of a recliner chair for seniors
  • Bonus features of the best recliners for seniors

Different Types of Recliner Chairs for Seniors

When it comes to learning how to choose the best recliners for seniors, there are many different types of recliners to choose from. Finding the right one for your comfort is essential to enjoying your chair and maximizing its effectiveness.

A few different types of recliners for seniors you may be familiar with are:

  • Traditional manual recliners
  • Swivel recliners
  • Indoor power recliners
  • Lift chairs

While each of these may come with their own sets of considerations, they all tend to fall short in terms of their overall effects on your health and well-being. As we age, simply being comfortable isn’t enough when choosing a chair for the living room (or any other space, for that matter). This is especially true for older adults who may be spending more time at home.

So then what are the best recliners for seniors? The answer may be something you hadn’t considered before: zero gravity chairs. Luxury zero gravity chairs may be new to you, but their design and features are enough to top any list of considerations. Developed based on observations by NASA of the neutral body positioning astronauts experience in space, the zero gravity position reduces stress points on the body by evenly distributing weight. In this position, the legs are elevated above the heart level and pressure is reduced on the spine and pelvic regions.

Zero gravity chairs circumvent the design flaw of other recliners that inadvertently focus pressure on the lower back. Not only can this excess pressure on the spine be a primary catalyst for back pain in older adults, but it can also lead to poor blood circulation throughout the body, pain from sitting too long, and even added mental stress.

The various designs of zero gravity chairs available today make choosing them as recliner chairs for seniors a no-brainer. For those seeking something outside of a traditional recliner look, there are even zero gravity swivel chair options equipped with intelligent design and a 280-degree swivel feature no other chair has!

Size Requirements of Recliners for Seniors

Next on our exploration of how to choose the best recliners for seniors, we’re taking a look at size requirements. We don’t necessarily mean big family room design ideas or furniture ideas for decorating small spaces (though those are things to consider, as well!). Instead, let’s focus on the needs of smaller or larger adults and how choosing the best recliners for seniors can meet those needs.

We humans come in all different shapes and sizes. Making sure your recliner is able to adapt to meet those needs can make a huge difference. Once more, zero gravity chairs rise to the top of the list.

For example, choosing zero gravity chairs for big and tall recliners means taking advantage of additional factors such as:

  • Leg and arm rest placement for accommodating your height 
  • Possible higher weight capacity of zero gravity chairs over traditional recliners
  • Ease of use for those with limited mobility
  • Health benefits of zero gravity chairs

Furthermore, a zero gravity chair with adjustable footrests can help seniors find the exact position that feels best. With the number of available options and the design advantages of zero gravity recliners for seniors, choosing the right chair for you is made easy.

Health Benefits of Recliners for Seniors

Comfort and style are indeed important points of consideration when choosing a chair for your home. Learning how to choose the best recliners for seniors (or really any age) should also include the consideration of how a chair may impact overall health, too. Whether it’s because you find yourself spending more time sitting and relaxing or you want to use a recliner as part of your daily fitness routine, finding a recliner that meets your needs is important.

As we’ve mentioned, traditional recliners of various types all have a major shortfall: the reclining design. While they may be comfortable at first, these recliners all put a focus of pressure on the lower back and pelvic regions. This can be a source of back pain from spinal stress, sciatica symptoms, or compounding bad sitting habits. Zero gravity chairs, on the other hand, are designed to avoid this downfall and actually reduce pressure on the back, instead.

The zero gravity position serves as a catalyst for the plethora of potential physical health benefits of zero gravity chairs that make them the best recliners for seniors such as:

The potential benefits of zero gravity recliners for seniors doesn’t stop at physical health, however. They also provide the potential to improve mental health, as well, by helping manage stress levels, improving sleep quality, and providing a space for mental health improvement exercises like zero gravity meditation. These possible benefits may also allow zero gravity chairs to help prevent cognitive decline in older adults, too!

The benefits of zero gravity chairs for all ages makes them indispensable to any home. Their particular uses for older adults, however, make them ideal recliner chairs for seniors looking for comfort while supporting their own overall health.

Bonus Features of Recliner Chairs for Seniors

Last, though certainly not least, on our list of considerations for how to choose the best recliners for seniors is their bonus features. While it may not have been the first thing to cross your mind, some of the bonus features found in recliners for seniors may enhance health and relaxation.

The biggest difference you’ll notice right away is the available bonus features when comparing a power recliner vs manual reclining chair. Manual chairs aren’t the best recliner for seniors because they simply cannot offer much in the way of helpful bonus features.

Indoor power recliners, on the other hand, may come with a variety of different features to enhance your experience. For example, the bonus features of zero gravity luxury recliners take their potential health benefits to the next level. Zero gravity chairs with massage and heat therapy features help keep your body loose, deepen relaxation, and even possibly speed up how the body heals itself! This can be extremely important for older adults.

Other features you may find, like zero gravity chairs with smart wakeup programs, are great for taking adult naps (they’re actually healthy!). Instead of running the risk of oversleeping, these smart wakeup programs help you get that afternoon power nap without the risk of disrupting your natural circadian rhythm.

We hope this guide has given you a few new considerations for how to choose the best recliners for seniors. Just because you’re getting older, doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable! Options such as choosing a zero gravity chair make finding the right recliner chairs for seniors a breeze. Consider what your needs are, find your ideal chair, and experience how the right recliner can make a noticeable impact on your lifestyle.

Want to learn more about why zero gravity chairs make the best recliners for seniors? Check out these resources for additional information: