Lift Chair Rentals in Calgary

How a lift chair differs from an ordinary recliner

A recliner leans back. A lift chair also lifts: a motor raises the whole seat and tips it forward, so the person’s feet are under them and their hips are high before they take their own weight. Sitting down works in reverse, with the chair meeting the person partway instead of letting them drop into a low cushion.

Infinite-position lift chairs add independent control of the backrest and footrest. Pride describes this on the VivaLift! Radiance as a backrest and footrest that move independently, and Golden describes two Comfort Zones that adjust separately on the Comforter with MaxiComfort. The practical result is a chair someone can sit upright in for a meal with their legs raised, or lean back in without their legs going up.

Sizing: the three measurements that matter

Lift chairs come in sizes, and a well-fitted chair lifts better and sits better than a poorly fitted one of a better brand. Before we recommend a chair, we ask for three measurements and a weight.

• Lower-leg length, from the back of the knee to the floor in everyday shoes. This sets seat height. Across the chairs we rent, seat heights run from 18 inches (Pride Radiance Small) to 23 inches (Golden Comforter with MaxiComfort Tall).
• Hip width, measured seated at the widest point. This sets seat width, from 20 inches on the smallest standard chair to 30 inches on the widest bariatric example, the Pride Heritage LC-358XXL.
• Thigh length, from the back of the hips to the back of the knee. This sets seat depth, which should support the thighs without pressing behind the knees.
• Weight. Standard chairs in our range are rated at 400 pounds; bariatric examples are rated at 500 or 600 pounds.

Room and power: planning the spot

A reclining chair needs space behind it. Pride publishes wall clearance for each Radiance size, from 14 inches (Petite-Wide) to 21.5 inches (Large/Tall). It also needs space in front, for the lift itself and for a walker or a helper to stand. The chair should sit near a grounded outlet, with the cord kept clear of the moving base and out of the walking path.

Think about the route in as well. Lift chairs are heavy, with the Radiance at 156 to 178 pounds depending on size, and bariatric chairs are wider. Measure the narrowest doorway and hallway turn, and mention stairs when you book.

Power outages and battery backup

A lift chair runs on household power, so an outage is a fair worry. Both of our infinite-position models carry a battery backup: Pride fits a lithium battery backup to the Radiance so it keeps working in an outage, and Golden lists a battery backup for every size of the Comforter with MaxiComfort. For any bariatric model we match, we confirm its outage arrangement before delivery. At setup, we show a family member where the backup is and how it works.

After surgery: when the chair is for sleeping

Recovery after shoulder, hip, knee, abdominal or heart surgery changes the questions. Seat height may need to meet a figure from the surgeon or OT, the recline may need to stay within hip precautions, and the hand control needs to fall to the arm that still works. The surgical team decides what is allowed; we set the chair up to follow those instructions, ideally before the operation so the person can try it while fully mobile.

Paying for a lift chair rental

Most lift chair rentals are paid privately or claimed through extended health benefits. Ask your plan whether equipment rentals are eligible, and whether they want a doctor’s prescription or written recommendation and a cost estimate first. We provide itemized receipts naming the equipment and rental period. Alberta Aids to Daily Living does not reimburse rentals for short-term needs, including recovery after an operation. For a workplace injury, WCB-Alberta requires lift chairs to be pre-approved, so speak to your case manager before booking.