Power Lift Recliner

[JohnnyMags]

I would have added this to earlier posts but they are closed. I want to ask about PLR I saw "Golden" recommended but they go for $1700 up to $3400. I can get a PLR on Amazon for $500 to $800 so my obvious question is what makes the chair so much more expensive and is it worth the large cost differential? I also saw in the closed post discussion into who pays ... I have medicare with an aetnea supplement and I thought I saw something in my reading about medicare paying for just the motor or motors but that may have been for a different piece of equipment. Also who or how do I connect with loaner programs.

 

[Nikki J]

I don’t know anyone who has an amazon chair maybe someone will speak up. I do know goldens are durable. I bought from my local medical supply and the man who delivered/ set it up also services them. He said the only thing they ever seem to need is a new remote

If you have not yet done so connect with ALS UNITED MID ATLANTIC. They cover your area. They are the new iteration of what used to be you ALSA. It was a great chapter and I expect it is as good if not better now.

You are right medicare pays for the motor with a prescription and if from an approved supplier. Part b does 80% and your supplement the 20%

Btw what happened with the tkr consult?

 

[JohnnyMags]

I didn't relate the TKR results because it is still pending. The doctor who use to be the Phila Eagles team doctor is our doctor definitly experienced and highly thought of. He was very nice and he explained his view on the subject. Bottom line is he said in order to do the surgery we needed a more comprehensive environment where she would be an in patient (as opposed to out patient which is what TKR's are considered). He said a good ortho facility is equipped to handle the special needs and rehab methods for an ALS patient. He recommended Jefferson saying they have an excellent orthopedic dept. He also told me to ask about Temple's orthopedic dept. I'm kind of leaning against the procedure but we will see what they say May 20th about the explanation I gave above ... Thanks for asking Nikki.

 

[Landis02]

We have a Golden lift chair. It’s a very good, comfortable chair. I have no experience with the Amazon chairs.
You might look for a used chair on someplace like Facebook Marketplace.

 

[lisa g]

You might want to try the ALS loaner locker in your area before purchasing one.I received my Golden Lift Chair from my loaner locker and I can tell you that I love the chair and sit in it all day rather than sit in my PWC.

 

[KimT]

I love my Golden Cloud lift chair. I bought a battery backup for power outages. One think to make sure is that the feet should not hang off the chair (for someone with ALS). Most recliners are designed to let your feet hang off. If you have weak ankles, this doesn't work. Golden has various sizes you can buy and it is definitely worth the money. I got one big enough that my dog can sit by my side. It is the most comfortable piece of furniture I've ever owned and I picked a color that blends in with my other living room furniture. I've enjoyed a lift chair and a bidet toilet seat since 2016. Even if I didn't have a mobility issue, I'd have these two pieces of equipment.

You can apply for a grant (that's how I paid for my bidet seat) of up to $1,000 from ALSA. I've received three grants from them over the past nine years.

 

[Nikki J]

Johnny doesn’t live in an alsa territory. I noted his als united chapter above.

 

[lgelb]

Re Golden -- there is an optional foot extension (goes past the foot rest, just a little upholstered bar) to consider for more length, esp. but not only if your legs are disproportionate to your height. We got that.

Also, just to support the other testimonials and add a note about versatility, we got ours in 2011, two moves ago, and our son, who is 7" shorter and 130# lighter than his dad was, still uses it every day as his TV/laptop chair, with a small pillow behind his back. (Our cat also finds it a comfy sleeping chair when not human-occupied, but oddly enough has never felt the need to scratch it as she does everything else.)

I just looked on Amazon, and if you are talking about the Pride recliners that have model numbers starting with PLR, Johnny, I didn't see any prices in the hundreds for what your wife would need. Maybe you were looking at the low-end models or a generic version, but PALS need the range of positioning referred to as "MaxiComfort" by Golden, that may go by different names elsewhere; comfortable fabric (that is not fake or real leather that can "stick" and crease the skin, but actual high-end fabric).

Also, note the models have changed with increased prices, but we had the 505, the medium (height 5'4-5'10") model of which is available at SpinLife currently for $995 excluding delivery and taxes, because it's an older model, likewise you will see similar pricing there on other models.

If living room space is tight, with any model, I would also measure to make sure the Hoyer will fit around the chair for transfers and that there is room to maneuver and use it.

 

[JohnnyMags]

Laurie I appreciate the additional information on the Golden you should get a commission from them as you did a great job of convincing me ...Thank you

 

[Kclark]

We bought the flex steel chair and it has been very helpful. He has heel pain so his legs hang of the end and relieve the pressure. He prefers the chair to the electric bed we bought.

 

[lgelb]

As Kim says, it's really not wise to let the legs hang off. For heel pain, you could try pressure boots.

Letting any joint (in this case, that would include the ankles) rest in an unsupported position runs the risk of subluxation, dislocation, fracture, blood clots, or soft tissue damage, because in ALS the muscles that hold the joints together normally, become weak.