What Is a Recliner Chair Bed and Why Do You Need One?

For very elderly or infirm people, getting into and out of a bed or chair can be a struggle. It can also be potentially dangerous, with slips, trips and falls one of the most common causes of injuries in the home. As you get a little more unsteady, it’s time to start making life a little easier for yourself – and more comfortable.

What is a recliner chair bed?

There are two main types of recliners – riser recliner chairs, and recliner chairs. Recliner chair beds are those that can be turned into a temporary bed when needed.

Riser recliner chairs are motorised chairs that help you get into and out of the seat by reclining to different heights and angles. They are usually motor operated, so it’s simply a matter of pressing a button when you want to get up, and letting the chair do all the work. The seat rises to an angle that makes it much easier to stand up. For anyone with mobility or balance problems, a recliner chair makes getting up or sitting down much easier.

Unless you press the keypad, the chair then stays in the reclined position. When you’re ready to relax into your chair you simply sit back and let the chair lower you down gently into the correct position.

Recliner chairs may not always have the riser option, but do recline fully back, with an extension that supports your legs in an almost horizontal position. They’re popular with all kinds of users, both young and old, as they’re comfortable, relaxing, and stylish.

To turn a recliner into a bed, all you need to do is extend the front section and recline it fully. The user is prevented from rolling off the side of the bed by the chair arms but has all the extra space they need to get a good night’s sleep.

Why choose a recliner chair bed?

For many elderly people or those who have mobility issues, a flight of stairs can turn into an unclimbable mountain. While stair lifts are a useful solution if you have a certain level of mobility, they are very expensive and require considerable home modification to install.

By contrast, a recliner chair bed means that a downstairs room can be transformed into a comfortable and safe bedroom during the night, and turn back into a living room during the day. The cost is comparably cheaper too, not to mention that a recliner chair bed can be fitted in minutes without any structural alterations.

The cost comparison

The average stair lift costs around £2,000 and although it is possible to get grants to help towards those costs, they are still very expensive when compared to a recliner chair bed. There’s also the disruption that having a stairlift fitted can cause. If your elderly or infirm relative simply needs somewhere relaxing and peaceful, without having to worry about getting up and down stairs, then converting a downstairs room into a bedroom is quicker, easier, and cheaper, both financially and time-wise.

It also allows an elderly person not only to maintain their independence in their own home (or in yours) but lets them retain their dignity too. As practical as stairlifts are, they are hardly dignified and for an infirm user, you still need help even with a stairlift and assistance getting into and out of the lift at both ends.

A recliner chair bed gives the user back control over their movements, giving them greater flexibility and a sense of independence every day.

If you are registered disabled or are elderly, then there may be grants available to help you with the cost of buying a recliner chair bed, especially if it is designed as part of a home care package. Talk to your local council to find out if you are eligible for financial help.

With so many stylish designs on offer, it’s easy to turn a downstairs living room into a tasteful bedroom with a recliner chair bed.