Gransnet forums

Health

Choosing a comfortable chair

(15 Posts)
Magsgran Wed 01-Jul-26 14:05:27

My husband has dementia and I have noticed recently that he is sleeping more and looks uncomfortable on our sofa. I think a wing backed chair would be good so his head has somewhere to rest but they all look straight backed and uncomfortable. I am unsure about recliners because he would try to get out of it and not remember about pressing the button to get it upright. Any suggestions for a suitable chair.

Sago Wed 01-Jul-26 15:24:00

Look at Stressless, not the copies but the real thing.

Go to a good stockist and they will talk you through the right chair, they come in different sizes.

Primrose53 Wed 01-Jul-26 15:33:49

From experience, don’t buy a Rise and Recline Chair. We bought my late Mum one and although we tested it in the shop and the assistant was happy she knew how to operate it, within weeks she could not remember. She had Alzheimer's but not too bad.

Several times she couldn’t work it out and ended up trying to climb out of it while the leg section was about 3ft in the air! Very dangerous. We had to disconnect the power supply and when she went into a care home she took it and they said they no longer use them unless power is disconnected because they are not safe for people with dementia.

silverlining48 Wed 01-Jul-26 15:40:32

I was given a wing chair post hip surgery but found it very uncomfortable because of it’s straight back. So I gave it away, clearly not the only one who found it uncomfortable.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 01-Jul-26 15:47:31

HSL. Take your husband along and they will “fit” him to a suitable chair.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 01-Jul-26 15:48:33

P.S - HSL sell “stress less”

Aveline Wed 01-Jul-26 15:59:44

I agree re proper Stressless recliners

MT62 Wed 01-Jul-26 17:47:31

Try British heart foundation they had some beautiful chairs in for a fraction of the price. I think it was a job lot!

Magsgran Wed 01-Jul-26 18:03:23

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Primrose - exactly what I was thinking
Sago I will look at Stressless
Thanks to everyone for taking the trouble to reply

Franbern Thu 02-Jul-26 08:44:38

Maybe not for people with dementia - but I must make the comment that for my 80th birthday, my children arranged for me to have a recliner/riser chair.

I went to Careco, and they had an enormous range of these. The one I chose has FOUR motors - so one for reclining back, one for raising legs and one each for my neck area and lumbar one.

I was measured and this was made for my size, several choices of material so was able to select one that tones in nicely with my other living room furniture.

I really love this chair. Been using it now for five years, and it gives me total comfort and is easy to use. On my Karndean flooring, it is relatively easy to move when necessary. On occasions I have slept in it.

I do find Careco has an excellent range of equipment, although over the years with this chair and other mobility equipment I have also found that their after-sale service is poor (to say the least)!!!

NotSpaghetti Thu 02-Jul-26 10:42:18

I have a wingback and really love it.
Very comfortable.
Wasn't new in the 1950s and recovered several times.

It surely must depend on the wingback?
I'd try a few before you write them all off.

Milliedog Thu 02-Jul-26 14:17:01

My husband absolutely loves his Stressless chair and footstool. You can get them in different sizes according to your height. He often reclines right back and rests his eyes....grin

Essexgirl145 Thu 02-Jul-26 14:29:41

I have a wingback Queen Ann and I love it, keeps he posture good.

chicken Thu 02-Jul-26 17:12:03

Stressless chairs are super comfortable, I’m sitting in one now, but expensive. There are usually quite a few good secondhand ones on online sites. That’s how I got mine. Even with courier costs, it saves hundreds of pounds.

Magsgran Thu 02-Jul-26 17:48:40

I was originally looking at wingback but they are very upright. I am going to try and look at a stressless before I commit - there are quite a few used ones online but I will have to know what I am looking for (there was a one with an adjustable back rest). Recliners won't work he often jumps up because he hears something and I think that might be dangerous, apart from using the controls which he couldn't do. Many thanks for replying.