- Daily care need first; diagnosis or product category second.
- Fit is checked before quote or final configuration.
- Sollevita does not replace medical or professional assessment.
What the stretcher position is actually for
The stretcher position lays the chair out almost flat, so the person can rest, be cared for, or move sideways onto a bed at a matched height. It is a daytime and care-task position, not a replacement for a proper bed. If overnight sleeping is the real difficulty, raise that separately with the care team — a bed or a different setup may suit better.
How the chair reaches flat, step by step
The person stays seated the whole time. From the handset, the motors lower the backrest and raise the leg section gradually, so the body settles into a level line rather than being tipped. You set the pace, and you can stop at any point that feels comfortable. There is no rush and no single “correct” angle — many care tasks are easier at a gentle recline rather than fully flat.
1. Ease the backrest down first
Bring the backrest down slowly while watching the person’s head and shoulders. Pause if they need a moment to adjust. On models with a Push Head support, tuck it so the neck stays supported as the angle opens out.
2. Raise the legs to meet it
Lift the leg section until it lines up with the seat and back. This is where the Zero Gravity idea helps: with the legs level to the heart, weight spreads across the whole body rather than pressing on one spot, which most people find restful for a daytime lie-down.
Care tasks that become easier lying flat
With the person level and supported, several everyday jobs get simpler and calmer:
- Changing clothes without repeated standing and sitting
- Continence care with room to work from the side
- Checking skin along the back and legs where it is otherwise hard to see
- A proper daytime rest, rather than dozing upright in a seated position
Matching the height for gentler transfers
On a Hi-Lo model such as the La Castellana, raise or lower the whole chair until the flat seat sits level with the bed. A sideways slide across two surfaces at the same height asks far less of everyone than lifting up and over. Ask the occupational therapist or physiotherapist to confirm the safest transfer method for the person, and to advise on any slide sheet or aids.
When a simpler chair is enough
Not everyone needs the stretcher position. If the person transfers easily and mainly wants comfortable seating with a gentle recline, a simpler rise-and-recline chair may be all that is sensible — and kinder on the budget. The flat position earns its place when regular side-access care or level bed transfers are part of the daily routine.
Before you decide
Sollevita offers a free fit check before any quote: someone talks through the person’s daily routine, transfers and the room, so the recommendation matches real use rather than a spec sheet. It costs nothing and often clarifies whether the stretcher position is genuinely worth having.