Living with Parkinson’s Disease is enough to cope with in itself, never mind having to spend hours trawling the internet to find a chair that is both practical and comfortable. This blog post looks in detail at what we think are the best chairs for advanced stage Parkinsons on the market.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. Although there is no known cure, with the right medication, symptoms can remain mild to moderate for a long time.
The symptom most often associated with Parkinsons is the shakes or a tremor.
Other symptoms include slow movement, stiff and inflexible muscles, trouble sleeping and balance problems. Rollators are great for people with balance problems in helping to prevent falls.
It’s important to consult your doctor if you suspect you or your loved one to have Parkinsons. The symptoms are similar to those of other conditions so you will likely be referred to a specialist for further tests.
Parkinson’s Disease progresses at different rates for everyone and the rate at which that happens isn’t related to age. In advanced and palliative stages, greater support for the individual will be needed to manage the symptoms effectively.
Now let’s get right down to why you came here in the first place. To find out what the very best chairs are for Parkinsons. Finding the right chair for a person living with Parkinsons can be overwhelming, particularly when there’s so much choice out there.
For those in the palliative stage of the disease, the number one priority is comfort and being free from pain. It’s also about providing people with dignity.
The Boston Porter Chair by Repose ticks all those boxes and then some! It is our most popular chair for people with Parkinson’s Disease because of its sheer comfort and versatility. We have no hesitation in putting the Boston Porter Chair right at the top of our list!
It’s like you’re being hugged from behind by a marshmallow! Feels like you’re floating on a cloud! These are just some of the things people have said about the Boston Porter Chair by Repose. The comfort levels experienced from our Boston Porter Chair are unrivalled.
Back and seat cushions are interchangeable and can be swapped over with ease as the needs of the person with Parkinsons change. There are various postural support back cushions, each one offering a different type of support and comfort.
The seat cushion options are incredible too, providing pressure relief for those up to very high risk of developing pressure sores.
About half of people living with Parkinsons Disease report that fatigue is a major problem. The Boston Porter Chair provides a full recline, meaning a person can lie right back to get into their most comfortable position and go to sleep. This is sometimes called the Lay Flat or Trendelenburg position.
Parkinsons is progressive and the needs of people living with it change over time. There are 8 back cushion styles to choose from when ordering the Boston Porter Chair, meaning should needs change, a more suited back cushion can be supplied at any time. The same goes for the seat cushion options, choose from 7 different seat cushions with varying levels of pressure relief. If a more enhanced level of pressure care is required at any stage, as with the back cushions, they are removable and interchangeable. Far cheaper than having to order an entirely new chair. The Boston is the smart choice for people living with Parkinsons.
Available with either a manual or electric tilt in space mechanism. A person can be continually repositioned, ensuring pressure is regularly distributed as well as all day comfort. Tilt in space means the leg and back angle always remain at ninety degrees. Particularly useful for someone who finds it painful to extend their leg. A tilt in space mechanism also means that clothes don’t shear when the chair is reclining.
There are wing handles and a push handle, making it effortless to move this chair around, even when fully reclined.
There are four heavy duty lockable castors which glide easily over low profile carpets, wooden and vinyl flooring. These also allow for unobstructed hoist access underneath.
A height and angle adjustable footplate allows for an additional range of support positions. The footplate can also be removed or flipped up to allow uninterrupted access with a hoist. The footplate has a removable cover for replacement or cleaning.
There’s so much more to the Boston Porter Chair that makes it our best chair for Parkinsons. So much so, we couldn’t possibly cram it all into this blog post. If you want to know more, just click the link above or get in touch.
As with any bespoke chair, it takes time to manufacture, precious time that some, quite frankly, just don’t have. You still want the very best chair for your loved one, you just simply cannot wait. Don’t worry! Repose have thought of everything!
The Boston Porter Express Chair by Repose is exactly the same, high quality, British made chair as the one we’ve just talked about. It just forms part of our express range, meaning it will be with you a lot quicker.
The outer fabric is Haven 911 Steel by Panaz and the inner is a Dartex VP grey as shown above. It has a manual tilt in space mechanism and is only available in one size. There is the same wide range of seat and back cushions to choose from as well as a height and angle adjustable footplate option. Providing the measurements are suitable, this chair will be with you in as little as 10-14 working days*.
*Subject to stock levels and delivery area. We cover the whole of mainland Britain. For up to date details, please contact us at info@hwbmobility.co.uk.
It’s no secret that remaining active and taking as much exercise as we are able, is good for us at any time. Ensuring a regular exercise routine will help you to live well with Parkinson’s Disease. Knowing your limits and understanding your own body is key to not overdoing it. Exercise and Parkinson’s is a really handy resource and may answer lots of your questions about this topic.
Muscle weakness in the legs could result in it becoming more difficult to stand from a seated position. A chair that assists you with this is called a riser recliner. Sometimes referred to as a riser chair, a rise and recliner and even a mobility chair, essentially it is a chair that helps you safely to your feet so that you are able to move around easier.
Remaining as independent as possible for as long as possible is the aim for us all and holding onto our ability to walk around is key. If a little assistance is needed in getting to one’s feet, the Tempo has the answer. Not only is it a tilt in space riser recliner chair, it is also future proofing your purchase as it doubles up as an advanced, hoist compatible porter chair too.
A version of this chair is also part of our express range if your requirement is urgent.
For more information about living with Parkinson’s Disease, visit Parkinson’s UK.
