Armchairs For Elderly

179 Ideas by Chloe Hughes

From chairs that lift you up, to chairs that resemble zero gravity to relieve joint pain, and everything in between, this collection of armchairs for elderly folk are not just functional, but stylish. High back models are great for reading to the grandkids and a steel-framed chair with padded seat and backing, can take away back pain, while giving you mobility without fear of getting stuck in a chair that is just too soft.

Classic high seat armchair for elderly

Lila Tufted Linen Arm Chair: Best Padded Dining Chair For Elderly People

My father was needed the armchair for elderly, so I decide to choose this one. It features the very comfortable padded seat and back, with solid steel construction. It has the modern design and two shades of gray.

Comfortable and attractive looking armchair is a very nice piece of furniture especially recommended for the elderly and rest homes. Soft and high-quality green fabric is easy to arrange in any worm oriented interior design.

Deandra Genuine Leather Manual Recliner: Best High Seat Chairs For Seniors

Andover Mills Reclining Massage Chair: Best Stylish Massage Chair For Seniors

The beautifully crafted orthopedic armchair on a solid base and beautiful upholstery is a perfect combination of functional furniture and stylish finish. Interestingly-made legs are slim and tall, and the comfortable seat has a wing back and armrests.

HOMCOM Vintage Dining Chair: Best Kitchen Chairs With Arms For Elderly People

Stylish faux leather easy chair for senior citizens

Made of solid wood and a beautiful armchair for older people impresses with ingenuity and comfort. Practical wheels make the whole mobile. Comfortable seat with backrest and armrests for perfect rest.

Fleece back comfy lumbar support aid armchair cushion elderly

Plush chair cushion provides additional support at lumbar back section, boosts softness and prevents spine ache. A fleece pad transforms an ordinary armchair into a cozy seat dedicated for an elderly person.

Arm chair in traditional form. It is mounted on wooden frame and reinforced with solid supports. Seat and back is filled with foam and covered with pleasant to the touch material. Great as dining chair or additional seating.

A pretty comfy recliner for elder persons. It has a wooden frame and a mechanism operated with a wired remote controller. It has a deep seat, a tall across split gently arched wingback, rolled sloped back arms. Upholstery is of soft beige fabric.

Annette 43" Wide Armchair: Best Wide Chair With Arms For Seniors

Kuehl Recliner

Aden Power Lift Assist Zero Gravity Recliner: Best Easy Chair For Senior Citizens

Elderly chair

An elegant take on a large cat gym tree with a couple of cozy compartments for cats to sleep in. The cat tree has three shelves and is upholstered with a special, smooth fabric that is save for the cats to scratch and scrape.

An elegant classy armchair with a woody frame and curved light brown legs. It has a semi-firm square seat, rolled out arms, a tall gently arched wingback. Upholstery is of quality off-white fabric with a greyish textured geometric diamond pattern.

A fine piece of vintage craftsmanship; this beautiful armchair can be easily moved, thanks to functional casters mounted on the front legs. It has an espresso-finished wood frame, and a seat and back both upholstered in a quality greenish fabric.

Abrytha Upholstered Recliner

Lannie Power Lift Assist Standard Recliner: Best Armchair For Elderly People With Traditional Tastes

Versatile dining chair for elderly

Remote Powered Lift Recliner

Lose yourself in this comfortable armchair with a smoothly-operating electric recline mechanism. It's upholstered in nice-to-touch material, with padded arms, a deep seat, and a supportive back with a comfy headrest.

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Armchairs For Elderly

Buying Guide

Chloe Hughes Interior Design Expert

Chloe is a vintage and antique decor expert, writer, and DIY educator who helps readers translate their love of character-rich pieces into livable, modern homes. With an extensive background in antique shopping, period décor, and hands-on upcycling, she shows people how to blend storied finds with everyday comfort. Her guidance focuses on creating warm, personal interiors where historic details and real life work seamlessly together.

Age is one of those things that catches up with all of us eventually. Comfortable armchairs for elderly can not only improve the quality of life, but even help support bodies that are challenged by weakness for one reason or another. Even if you are not elderly, such chairs can be generally beneficial for anyone who has been ill or even for someone who is tired at the end of a long day.

What is the selection of armchairs for the elderly?

Some examples of armchairs that can be used by the elderly include:

Simple straight back wooden armchairs, with high back and seat. The seat and back are cushioned, and the back cushion is contoured for extra support. The high seat makes it work well for tall individuals, and the wooden arms provide assistance for getting up and down.
Orthopedic upholstered chair. At first glance, you’d not see any difference between this chair and any other wing-back overstuffed chair. However, the sturdy armrests and contoured back make this a comfortable place for someone with a painful or weak back to rest, read, or watch television. Add a footstool for those who need to put their feet up.
Power-lift Recliners. These attractive chairs look just like any other recliner. While an ordinary recliner can be a comfortable place to sit, if you are challenged in any way, it can be difficult to get in and out of. Power lift recliners are ideal armchairs for the elderly or for anyone who is weak from illness or some sort of medical condition. Not only will the powered remote help recline the chair and return it to sitting position, but it can be used to gently assist the user with standing up.
Bathroom Armchairs. Bathing can become an ordeal for older persons or for anyone who is experiencing loss of mobility. The Cascade, designed by Daniel Colby, allows the bather to sit in a gentle waterfall that cascades down the back and into a sitz-bath basin. The drain for the unit is in the basin. For those who are not handicapped, the Cascade bathing unit can be a quiet place to enjoy the soothing therapy of water and soap.

Armchairs for the elderly don’t have to look like hospital furnishing. They can incorporate nice upholstery, stylish lines, and should certainly incorporate comfort. They can be for the living room or designed for kitchen or even bathroom use.

What are the things to consider when selecting an armchair for an elderly person?

When selecting armchairs for the elderly, consider the user’s strength. For example, not every older person needs a chair lift to be able to stand up from a sitting position. The user’s height and weight are also considerations that need to be taken into account. The seat depth needs to correctly accommodate the user’s leg length, as well as the height of the chair from floor to seat. The user’s mental state must also be taken into consideration – for example, can the person safely operate the controls of a lift chair? Nor should esthetics be left out of the selection process. An item that will be used often, such as a favorite chair, should be visually and texturally appealing as well as practical.

Armchairs For Elderly

Questions & Answers

How to choose the height of an armchair for an elderly person?

While a higher seat makes it easier to get in and get out of the armchair, one that’s too high puts a lot of pressure on the back of the thighs. If the feet can’t touch the floor, sitting will be uncomfortable. It’s very important to get an armchair appropriate for the height of the person who will be using it, therefore armchairs with adjustable height are a very good choice.

What about the depth?

The armchair has to be deep enough to offer support for the full length of the thighs. However, the person using the armchair shouldn’t have to lean back. Overly deep armchair can be made shorter by adding a cushion behind the user’s back.

And the armrests?

Armrests should provide support without the need of raising or dropping the shoulders.

Considering all that, is there a perfect armchair for elderly people?

It is true that armchairs for elderly people have to be chosen carefully, as a mistake could be dangerous to the well-being of the chair’s user. While standard armchairs, as long as of appropriate size, are fine, completely adjustable armchairs are much more convenient. They are, however, also the most expensive ones.

Are footstools a good idea?

Elderly people with certain conditions might gain relief if they can keep their legs elevated, and that’s why it’s good to have footstools. However, it’s crucial to remember that these footstools have to be moved away before attempting to stand, to avoid tripping.

Is there anything else I should consider?

Armchairs with head support are a good choice. Some elderly people have problems with head control, and additional support is always welcome. As poor head control can impact the ability to breathe and feed, this feature can be very helpful. Other than that, wheels are a very convenient addition, as they allow to easily move the armchair around the house, even while someone is using it!

Are armchairs with pressure management a good choice?

Elderly people tend to spend most of their time in armchairs, and therefore pressure management can be very beneficial. It reduces the risk of developing pressure ulcers (bed sores) and improves the overall comfort.

I know that armchairs for elderly people are mostly for utility, but what about design?

Don’t worry! Even the medical-grade armchairs for elderly people come in various designs, most of them able to fit the most popular interior styles. However, as older people sleep in their chairs a lot, keep the colours gentle and calm, not to make falling asleep harder.

What are my fabric choices?

Armchair for elderly people should be durable, easy to clean and should be able to “breathe”. Now, depending on the situation, one characteristic might be more important than the others – breathable fabric is important especially for people who rarely move out of the chair, while being easy to clean is more important for people with worse arms control.