A chair with removable armrests can meet two very different needs: getting close to the table without changing seats, and freeing up the side for certain transfers. These are not necessarily achieved by removing the same component. On Sollevita the upper section of the armrest can be pulled out, while removing the entire side panel opens up side access. The choice depends on the activity and on the support the person needs, not on the idea that less bulk is always better. [1]
In brief
Pulling out the upper section of the armrest can make it easier to get close to the table; removing the entire side panel, on the other hand, frees up side access towards a bed or wheelchair. These are different uses, to be assessed together with supports, height and the space available. The full armrest remains a reference point for the arms and, where appropriate, when using the rise function. Removing the side panel prepares the way, but it does not determine the transfer technique.
Three armrest configurations, three different tasks
When a product sheet talks about “removable armrests”, ask to see which part comes off and which stays in place. Removing a cover, pulling out a padded element and removing an entire side panel are not equivalent operations. The description must match the product shown and the configuration proposed.
For Sollevita, the comparison can be organised into three situations. It is not an assembly sequence to be carried out step by step, but a map for understanding which configuration a specific activity requires. Removal and refitting always follow the chair’s instructions. [1]
| Configuration | Main task | What still needs checking |
|---|---|---|
| Full armrest | Support for the arms and hands while seated and during permitted movements | Height, reach and the person’s need for support |
| Upper section pulled out | Reducing bulk when getting close to the table | Under-table clearance, knees, foot support and supports still needed |
| Side panel fully removed | Freeing up side access towards a bed or wheelchair | The person’s stability, heights, aids and transfer plan |
The wheeled base is not a fourth armrest configuration. It is used to move the chair; the side element is handled according to the activity and the instructions. This distinction avoids automatically linking “wheels in use” with “armrest removed”.
The full armrest is not bulk that always has to go
For someone who reads, rests or uses the handset, the armrest is first and foremost a support surface. During the trial, watch whether the forearm has enough room without forcing the person to raise their shoulder, lean to one side or hold the handset away from the body.
It is not enough for the armrest to be wide. What matters is how it relates to the seat width, the height of the torso and the posture the person actually maintains. Someone may appreciate a broad support and, at the same time, find it too far away when they need to reach it with their hand.
When moving towards standing or returning to a seated position, precise reference points may be needed. Removing both armrests for the convenience of the person providing care risks eliminating the very supports the routine relies on. Before the movement, the necessary configuration must be restored, with components correctly engaged according to the instructions.
Furthermore, the armrest is not a clinical side rail and does not make an assessment of trunk control unnecessary. If the person tends to lean or needs prescribed supports, do not remove them to make a demonstration easier. The caregiver’s access must be organised without losing the necessary support.
At the table, pulling out the upper section may be enough
A table may be close to the torso yet out of reach because the upper part of the armrest hits the underside of the tabletop. In this situation, pulling out the upper element can free up space without having to open the side of the chair completely. [1]
The check starts from the real table. Measure the height of the top, the clear space underneath, crossbars, drawers and the distance between the table legs. Then consider the chair as assembled and the space the body needs: a solution that works with the empty frame may not leave comfortable support for the knees, feet or forearms.
Do not try to reach the plate by repeatedly sliding the pelvis forward or bending the trunk. The question to ask during the consultation is whether the seat, the distance and the tabletop can work together. A separate small table, where suitable, can also be an alternative to the kitchen table: there is no need to use the same piece of furniture in every home.
Adjustable height: first the space, then the movement
Vertical height adjustment changes the height of the whole chair while the person stays seated or lying down. It must not be confused with the rise function, which helps the person towards a standing position. Near the table, the height should only be adjusted after checking that the body and the moving parts have enough room. [1]
Do not use the motor to push against a crossbar or to force the seat under a tabletop that is too low. The check also covers the person’s supports: reaching the table at the desired height does not automatically mean that the feet are well supported. The correct adjustment must be checked in real use.
For a side transfer, the whole side panel needs to be assessed
To move from a wheelchair to the chair, or to position a lie-flat surface alongside the bed, the obstacle may be the entire side wall. In this case, removing only the upper armrest section may not free up the passage needed.
On Sollevita, the fully removable side panel allows that side to be opened. Vertical height adjustment makes it possible to adjust the height of the frame; the 180° lie-flat position comes into play when positioning alongside while lying down is planned. These are features that prepare the space, not a procedure that applies to every person. [1]
The INRS ALM approach links support for mobility to the person’s existing abilities and to appropriate aids, avoiding placing the person’s weight on the physical strength of the caregiver. From this point of view, clear access is one condition to be assessed alongside the others, not proof that the transfer can be carried out manually. [2]
The side should be chosen based on the real situation. For people living with the after-effects of a stroke, for example, strength and control may differ between the two sides: the dedicated page on the riser recliner after a stroke and transfer needs provides the context, while the practical procedures remain those agreed with the professionals who support the person.
Transfer boards, slide sheets or patient hoists do not automatically become compatible just because the side panel is removable. The model, supports, access and documentation of the whole set-up must be checked, while keeping to the transfer procedure indicated for the person.
Getting to the table and transferring are two separate decisions
Sometimes the person does not want to change seats: they simply want to join lunch in the next room. The Sollevita wheeled base can allow short indoor moves with the person seated, according to the instructions and along suitable routes. In this case the advantage is reaching the activity without arranging an additional change of seat. [1]
The route must be checked beforehand: doors, turns, thresholds, flooring and space to park the chair. Do not choose the armrest set-up based solely on how easily it gets through. The person must keep the necessary supports during the move, in the configuration specified for the product.
On arrival, the chair must be stabilised as indicated in the instructions before the activity or any transfer. Wheels, base supports and removable parts must not be handled with improvised sequences. The Sollevita Team can explain the configuration delivered, without replacing individual care guidance.
For the return journey, consider the same aspects as for the outward one: the available route, the components to be restored and the person carrying out the movement. “We can get to the table” is only half the check if the return is then left to the memory of a single family member.
A worksheet to avoid confusing table access, care and transfers
Before the trial, choose the activity you want to make easier and fill in the corresponding row. There is no need to use every option the product offers: an independent person may want to get close to the table, while another mainly needs side access for care.
| Desired activity | Information to gather | Priority check |
|---|---|---|
| Eating or reading at the table | Photos of the underside of the table, height, crossbars and distance from the seat | Which part of the armrest gets in the way of getting close |
| Using the handset | Hand used, forearm support, position of the handset | Which supports must remain available |
| Moving across from the wheelchair | Model of the aid, usual side and method already agreed | Full access, heights and support for the person |
| Positioning alongside the bed | Height and type of surface, side space and aids in place | Geometry of the whole set-up, not just the absence of the side panel |
| Receiving personal care | Activity, access side and who provides the care | Getting close without removing essential supports |
Also note down what you do not know yet. For example: “We don’t know whether only the upper section needs to be removed” is a useful question. There is no need to dismantle the product or try out a transfer to complete the worksheet.
Measurements and maintenance complete the choice
Sollevita offers 52 or 63 cm seat widths and three available seat depths. The width also affects the distance to the supports; the depth changes the relationship between the pelvis, the backrest and the table. Do not choose the seat just so it fits under the tabletop: first and foremost, it must be in proportion to the person. [1]
The modular construction and the fact that both outer and underlying covers are fully removable make it easier to manage components and upholstery. An armrest used every day can be maintained and serviced as an identifiable element, without treating the chair as a single unit. Washing, removal and refitting must follow the instructions for the material and the product.
During a comparative assessment, therefore, ask for a demonstration of the actual system: which parts pull out, which are removable and how correct refitting is checked. These construction differences between riser recliners are more informative than a generic list of optional extras.
When an open side is not enough
If the person loses support when the side is opened, it must be clarified how to maintain it before proceeding. If the table remains incompatible, it may be necessary to rethink the tabletop or the layout, rather than pulling out further parts by trial and error. If the transfer requires a specific aid, an open side does not make it unnecessary.
Also avoid leaving dismantled components along the route, pulling cables to gain space or using a part that is not correctly engaged as a support. For questions about the removal system, contact the Sollevita Team; changes to transfer methods or supports are a matter for whoever oversees the person’s care.
The value of removable armrests lies in being able to use the right configuration when needed and to restore the necessary supports after the activity. Not in permanently removing as many elements as possible.
FAQ
Common questions
Is a chair with removable armrests always suitable for side transfers?
No. You need to check what is removed and whether the resulting opening is compatible with the person, the other aids and the planned procedure. The sales description alone does not answer these questions.
Do you have to remove the whole side panel to get close to the table?
Not necessarily. On Sollevita it may be enough to pull out the upper section of the armrest, if the table and the person’s supports allow it. The space under the table must still be measured.
Does the armrest need to be refitted before using the rise function?
The supports that person needs and the configuration specified in the instructions must be restored. Do not start the rise function while relying on a component that has been removed or is not correctly engaged.
Does vertical height adjustment replace removing the side panel?
No. It adjusts the height of the frame; removing the side panel frees up the side. They can work together when preparing a transfer, but they solve different problems.
Can I use the wheeled base as an alternative to changing chairs for lunch?
It may be possible along a suitable route and with the specified configuration. Moves in both directions and stabilising the chair at the table must be checked. It is not a solution suited to every setting.
What photos are needed to assess access to the table?
A front view and a side view with measurements of the tabletop, the space underneath and the crossbars are useful. Add the route and describe the supports the person uses, without arranging difficult trials just to photograph them.
Sources and references
[1] Sollevita · La Castellana. Sollevita care riser recliner. Accessed 9 September 2026.
[2] INRS · France. The ALM approach: supporting the mobility of the person being cared for while taking care of them and of oneself (in French). Accessed 9 September 2026.
The health sources support the principles cited, not an endorsement of Sollevita. Product features are information from the manufacturer; the practical worksheets are editorial content, not clinical tests.
The next step: start from the activity, not the component
Describe what you want to make easier: lunch, using the handset or a transfer that has already been organised. Compare these needs with the armrests and functions of the Sollevita chair and with the Sollevita Team, bringing the measurements of the room and of any relevant aids.
