- 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.
Measure the person, not the old chair
The chair someone has used for years may never have fitted properly, and bodies change over time. Take every measurement from the person as they normally sit, in everyday clothing, and note any cushion they use so the supplier can factor it in. Two numbers do most of the work: seated hip width in ordinary clothes, and the person’s weight. From those, a good supplier can translate the rest into the right configuration.
Seat width — snug support, not extra space
Measure the widest point across the hips while seated, then allow a small clearance of a couple of centimetres for clothing and easy movement. A bigger chair is not automatically a safer one. A seat that is too wide leaves the person with nothing beside them, so they drift sideways and slump; too narrow and the sides press on the hips. Aim for a close, well-supported fit, with solid contact behind and beside the body.
Why the capacity rating matters
When a chair is rated for a higher weight, the frame, base and motors are all built to match. That is what keeps a recline or a rise feeling smooth and planted rather than strained. Confirm the exact capacity of the specific model you are looking at, and stay comfortably within it. Sollevita will tell you the figure for the configuration you choose, whether that is a Zero Gravity recline or a Hi-Lo rising seat.
Dignity in the everyday details
A well-fitted chair is really about comfort and dignity: sitting square and supported, being able to shift position, and not feeling perched or exposed. Think about how the person looks and feels when settled, not only the measurements. If they hold their own posture well and simply want a comfortable, supportive seat, a straightforward chair may be all that is needed, and it is fine to say so.
Plan the transfer route
Consider how the person gets into and out of the chair, and from which side. Where standing and moving are hard, the care team, occupational therapist or physiotherapist can advise on the safest transfer and whether a rising seat or a Push Head rest would ease daily positioning. Position the chair so carers have room to help from the stronger side.
Before you finalise: room and access
Measure the door width, the route from the entrance to where the chair will stand, and the space the chair needs when it reclines or rises. A La Castellana chair that fits the person perfectly still has to fit the room around it, with clearance for the footrest and backrest at full extension.
A free fit check before you commit
Getting the size right is easier with a second pair of eyes. Before you ask for a quote, book a free fit check with Sollevita: we will go through the measurements, the transfer route and the room together, so the chair you order is the one that actually suits the person and the home.