One of the most pressing issues for seniors, as well as other who have mobility related issues, is being able to stand and sit on their own. There are a number of factors that make this process more difficult, however, often it is related to senior arthritis and other health factors, which affect accessibility. There are a number of ways to address this sort of problem, but many find that using a lift recliner is the most effective treatment.
Lift recliners, or as they are often referred to as, lift chairs, offer a means of making it safer and easier for a senior to stand on their own. Providing a comfortable place to sit, these home medical devices also include a lifting mechanism in the chair, which makes it safer for the senior to stand.
As the mechanism engages, the base of the lift recliner is raised, moving the senior upwards until they are sufficiently raised so as to exit the device on their feet. However, the devices are designed in a manner that prevents the senior from being expelled from the lift recliner or having to worry about falling from it, even when the device has been fully extended.
Bariatric Lift Recliners
Bariatric lift recliners, or heavy duty lift recliners, are a very powerful type of lifting system, which has improved stability and weight support. In most cases, they will utilize dual electric motors and have a weight capacity that is at least 500 pounds and sometimes more.
Not only is the weight capacity higher, but the lift recliners are also specially reinforced to support more weight. These types of lift recliners are often used by those who have weight issues, such as obesity, and could not safely use a standard lift recliner.
Lift Recliners and Medicare
Since older people are one of the key user groups that enjoys using these lifting aids, whether or not the device is covered by Medicare is often a concern. However, Medicare lift recliners are not always available in all situations and even when they are, there are several steps that must be preformed to receive reimbursement.
The short answer is that in some cases, Medicare is willing to provide partial reimbursement towards a lift recliner, only covering the actual lifting system and not the entire chair itself. When a payment is provided, it is typically for under $300. However, Medicare has some strict requirements on who can receive a lift recliner reimbursement.
One of the most important requirements for receiving reimbursement for the lift recliner is that it is medically necessary and required by the patient to stand up from any chair in the home. A doctor must also prescribe the device as part of a treatment of a mobility related disorder, as well as complete a more complex Certificate of Medical Necessity, which outlines the seniors individual needs.
Since the requirements are more complex for a lift chair than other types of durable medical equipment, such as eye glasses, receiving Medicare reimbursement for a lift recliner is not always possible.