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FRAILTY AND LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE

Riser recliner chair for older people losing independence: when more support is needed

A riser recliner chair for older people with reduced mobility accompanies very different moments of the day: standing up, sitting back down, reading, resting or sitting at the table with the family. The choice starts from what makes those moments more enjoyable and from the movements where help is needed. One person may manage some activities alone and need support for others.

Sollevita is a riser recliner chair with integrated care features, made in Italy by La Castellana. It brings together adjustments for sitting and resting, sit-to-stand assistance and functions that make access easier during care and help prepare transfers. Measurements, supports and ways of using the chair are chosen together with the Sollevita Team, taking into account the habits of the person and the equipment already in use.

Sollevita is also designed for people who are independent and simply want more comfort in daily life. You do not need to be in a severe condition to appreciate a welcoming seat, adjustable support or the convenience of lying back. For those with care needs, these possibilities work alongside the help and the guidance already received, without replacing the clinical pathway.

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Loss of independence shows in everyday movements

It often begins with a simple sentence: I would like to stand up with less effort, or I would like to read with my back better supported. In other situations a family member notices that sitting back down now needs help, or that getting out of bed has become harder. These are needs to listen to, together with what the person wants to keep on doing.

An older person may walk around the house and find only the rise from a low seat difficult. Another may use the controls for resting independently but need help with transfers. Another may need support with almost all of these activities. These are different situations, not compulsory stages of the same journey.

Reading with the head supported, staying close to the family and sitting back down gradually are concrete goals. A care chair for older people should support these habits and leave room for the preferences of the person, rather than organise the day on their behalf.

When several difficulties add up on the same day

Loss of independence becomes more demanding when it does not concern a single movement. The person may need help to stand up, a different position while resting and freer side access when receiving care. The need can change with the activity and the moment, without being the same every day.

Within the same day there is conversation, then rest and, when necessary, personal care. The adjustments on Sollevita make it possible to accompany these moments with different positions and different access, keeping the supports that each activity requires.

Sollevita was designed as a single complete model, not as a basic seat to be added to every time a new need appears. Having several functions available makes it possible to assess rising, resting and care together. To understand what changes compared with other proposals, you can compare the construction and functional differences of Sollevita, looking at the features actually included in each configuration.

Standing up and sitting back down more gradually

A riser recliner chair for older people starts from a concrete need: making the move out of the seat easier. Some people look for support on the armrests, others ask for help to begin the movement. A seat that is too low, too deep or too soft can add an obstacle to a movement that is already demanding.

The rise function on Sollevita guides the pelvis upwards and forwards through a progressive movement that can be stopped at any point. It can be used for the part of the transition that needs support, without always having to reach the maximum rise. Foot support, armrests, any walking frame and assistance all need to be considered together.

Sitting back down deserves attention too. The reverse movement can accompany the descent when the person finds it hard to control. The chair accompanies a planned movement, but it is not a system that detects a fall and it does not replace the balance or the help that are needed.

When moving into standing is not appropriate, increasing the rise does not solve the problem. A patient hoist may be needed, or a different transfer organised, following the guidance of the professionals involved. The choice should never oblige the person to perform a movement they are not in a position to manage.

Resting and changing position without adding transfers

An older person may want different positions for talking, reading, watching television or resting. The relax function adjusts the backrest and the footrest; the powered headrest Push Head adapts the support for head and neck. There is no need to reach the maximum recline to find a position that feels right.

Tilt-in-space tilts seat and backrest together, keeping the angle between the two parts unchanged. Backrest recline, on the other hand, changes the angle of the backrest in relation to the seat. They are different possibilities: moving the structure does not replace repositioning a person who has lost their supports.

The Zero Gravity position combines the adjustments of the chair into a relaxed setting with legs and feet raised. It should be chosen according to comfort and individual needs. It is a resting option, not a treatment for the causes of reduced mobility.

The lie-flat position (180°) makes it possible to stretch out for a break or a short nap without necessarily facing another transfer. The position must be appropriate for the person and does not automatically replace the bed, especially where specific surfaces or help during the night are required.

A relaxing chair for older people should also be pleasant in the move from rest back to activity. The handset within reach, the book close by and the supports ready for sitting up again all help to enjoy the break calmly. Where assistance is needed, organising it is part of setting up the place.

Bed-to-chair transfers and the lie-flat transfer configuration

When a person moves from bed to chair and back every day, the transfer becomes a central part of care at home. A fixed side panel, a difference in height or surfaces that are too far apart can make the move harder for the person and for the carer.

Sollevita brings three elements together: the lie-flat position (180°) creates a flat surface, the vertical height adjustment of the whole chair sets the height, and the fully removable side panel frees up side access. The lie-flat transfer configuration therefore makes it possible to bring the chair alongside the bed and prepare the conditions for some transfers.

Vertical height adjustment is not the same as the rise function: it changes the height of the chair while the person stays seated or lying down, without guiding them towards standing.

The benefit lies in being able to reduce height differences and side obstacles, not in replacing the care procedure already in place. Where a sling, a transfer board, a slide sheet, a patient hoist or more than one person are required, those tools and that help keep their role. Bed, chair and equipment need to be checked together, including the return from the chair to the bed.

Wheelchair, table and moving around the home

When the person uses a wheelchair, bringing the two seats close together is not enough if a side panel gets in the way. On Sollevita the whole side panel can be removed and the height of the structure can be adjusted to prepare the approach. The actual technique depends on the person, on the equipment already in use and on the guidance received.

To get closer to a table, however, only the upper part of the armrest is taken off. That is a different operation from removing the whole side panel. Table, legroom and supports need to be compatible: freeing up the space taken by the armrest is not enough to make any setting suitable.

This option can be useful for talking, reading or joining in at mealtimes without automatically changing seat. The position should be prepared for the activity: the one chosen for resting is not necessarily suitable for eating.

The sturdy wheeled base makes it possible to move the person between rooms of the home while they stay seated on Sollevita, even along longer routes. From the living room to the bedroom or the dining area, moving does not require a change of seat every time. It is used with an accompanying person, along routes compatible with the dimensions of the chair and the product instructions; it remains distinct from independent mobility in a wheelchair.

The lithium battery powers the adjustments of the chair, not the drive of the wheels. Before standing up, sitting down or carrying out a transfer, the chair must be in the stable condition set out in the instructions, not in the configuration used for moving it on its base.

Seat, measurements and comfort over long hours

When a person spends many hours in a chair, the first impression of softness does not describe the whole of comfort. What counts is the support during activities, being able to reach the controls and being able to change the supports without having to search for a position all over again.

Sollevita uses a three-layer seat construction made up of a sprung seat base, individually pocketed springs and an upper comfort layer. The high backrest gives firmer support in the lumbar area and a softer feel higher up; the powered headrest Push Head adjusts the support for head and neck.

The seat is available in widths of 52 or 63 cm and three depths, obtained through the positioning of the backrest. The configuration for high user weight goes up to 340 kg: that figure should not be attributed indiscriminately to every configuration.

Measurements must be proportionate to the person, not only to the space available in the living room. Excessive depth can make it difficult to rest the back and the feet at the same time; a generous width can move the armrests further away. The footrest extension extends support for legs and feet when the proportions of the user call for it.

Sollevita is not presented as a pressure-relief chair. The construction of the seat and the adjustments are aimed at support and comfort. Where there is a risk of pressure injuries, surfaces, any cushions and the repositioning programme should be assessed with the professional involved. Having different positions available is not a reason to extend sitting time without respecting the movement and the breaks that have been planned.

Carers and vertical height adjustment

Shaving, hair care, dressing and adjusting clothing can require the carer to work bent over or with their arms far from the body. For a chair intended for care at home, access to the person matters as much as the resting positions.

Vertical height adjustment raises or lowers the whole of Sollevita while the person stays seated or lying down. The height can be adapted to the activity; the removable side panel allows, where appropriate, a freer approach from the side. This can make some care tasks easier without having to change place continually.

The flat surface and the vertical height adjustment also allow anyone giving a compatible massage to work at a more comfortable height. The position of the person, the materials used and the activity must follow the guidance received and the product instructions.

Being able to come closer and choose a more comfortable working height helps to organise care with less bending and less reaching. The techniques and the equipment required remain part of the care.

Intuitive handsets, chosen together with the Sollevita Team

Sollevita handsets are designed for simple use, with intuitive buttons arranged in a logical order. The adjustments for resting and rising are therefore easier to recognise and to manage day to day.

Handsets are available with a cable and wireless. Together with the Sollevita Team you can choose the more convenient solution for the person and for whoever helps them, considering the configuration and daily habits. Choosing the handset is part of preparing the chair; it is not a detail to leave until later.

The explanation starts from the movements that really matter: setting the backrest for reading, supporting the legs or preparing the rise. Tutorials and support by video call remain available to go over a step again or clear up a doubt calmly.

Where there are difficulties with movement or understanding, the placement of the handset and the help required are agreed together. When several family members take turns, sharing the explanations makes use of the chair calmer and more consistent.

Covers and components designed for everyday management

When a chair is used every day, caring for the covers and being able to work on individual parts matter too. On Sollevita both the outer and the underlying covers are removable. Edges finished to resist fraying and the modular construction are part of a design that also considers maintenance over time.

Raggio di Sole and Mons fabrics and the faux leather options let you choose the feel and the look you prefer, alongside everyday management. Cleaning follows the instructions for the material chosen; any additional protective covers should be agreed in relation to the seat.

For questions about covers, components or use, the Sollevita Team remains the direct point of contact. The five-year commercial warranty on every element, according to the conditions of purchase, works alongside original spare parts and technical support. You can read more about warranty, spare parts and direct support rather than having to infer the service from the features of the chair alone.

The eight Sollevita functions, already integrated

Sollevita brings together in the same model the functions for rising, resting and receiving care. The drive system includes between 5 and 8 independent motors, depending on the user weight rating. Each function answers a distinct task: knowing them all makes it possible to judge which ones will be useful day to day.

  • Rise function — Progressively accompanies the move towards standing and, through the reverse movement, the return to sitting.
  • Relax — Adjusts backrest and footrest to choose a position for reading, television or a break, including intermediate positions.
  • Powered headrest Push Head — Adjusts the support for head and neck in the different positions.
  • Tilt-in-space — Tilts seat and backrest together, keeping the chosen angle between the two parts.
  • Zero Gravity — Combines the adjustments into a relaxed setting with legs and feet raised.
  • Lie-flat position (180°) — Brings the chair into a flat position for a break or a rest, where appropriate for the person.
  • Vertical height adjustment — Raises or lowers the whole structure with the person seated or lying down, setting the height for care or for coming alongside other surfaces.
  • Lie-flat transfer configuration — Combines flat surface, vertical height adjustment and removed side panel to prepare the approach to the bed and some transfers.

Alongside the functions there are the three-layer seat construction, the high backrest, the footrest extension, the removable upper armrest sections, the fully removable side panel, the lithium battery and the wheeled base. Removable outer and underlying covers and the modular structure complete the features for everyday management.

See functions, measurements and price of Sollevita to look further into the configuration of the product.

When Sollevita works alongside other equipment

A chair for older people who are not self-sufficient may have to work together with a care bed, a wheelchair, a specialist cushion or a patient hoist. The completeness of Sollevita serves to bring several activities together in one place, not to do away with equipment that is still needed.

The wheelchair may remain important for moving around and for a personalised seating position; the bed for sleeping and for care tasks; the patient hoist for transfers that require the person to be fully supported. The role of the chair should be made clear within this whole picture.

The quality of the seat and the resting positions are valuable for people who move around independently too. Everyone uses the functions they need, from simple relaxation to help with one particular move. If supports or care needs change over time, talking it through with the Sollevita Team and with the professionals involved helps to review how the chair is used.

What to tell the Sollevita Team before the consultation

Tell us how you would like to spend your time in the chair: reading, resting, sitting at the table or getting help with everyday moves. Height, weight, the current seat and equipment already in place allow the Sollevita Team to connect those wishes with measurements and functions.

Say who will use the handset, which movements are independent and where a hand is needed. A description such as walks around the house but asks for help when sitting back down tells us more than a generic label. There is no need to repeat difficult movements: everyday habits and the guidance already received are enough.

A photograph of the empty space and the measurements available are a good starting point. The Sollevita Team guides you in choosing the product; new pain, dizziness or sudden changes in ability should instead be reported to a healthcare professional.

How the consultation works

3 steps to define the perfect Sollevita for you

Sollevita comes fully equipped for home care. Our job is to understand whether it can meet your needs and to guide you clearly before, during and after delivery.

1

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about your needs, or those of the person who will use Sollevita. Height, weight, hours spent in the chair, level of independence and daily needs help us understand how the product will be used every day.

2

Let's assess together whether Sollevita is right for you

The Sollevita Team listens to your needs, explains every function and assesses sizes, weight capacity and how the chair will be used. We explain precisely whether and how Sollevita can meet the needs of the person and their daily life.

3

Delivery and support

We arrange delivery and a complete explanation of the product, so that you get to know all of Sollevita’s functions and use them correctly. After purchase, the Sollevita Team remains your direct point of contact for warranty, spare parts, tutorials, video calls and technical support over time.

Next step

The right choice starts with a conversation

For such an important choice, talk to the people who make it. Write to us: you will get a reply directly from the Sollevita Team, not a call centre. Our consultants know the chair inside out, from its mechanisms to its adjustments, and they listen to you to offer clear explanations, technical expertise and personalised advice.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers on comfort and independence through the day

For an older person, what counts is the supports, the transitions and the help that is really needed. These answers connect the features of Sollevita with the different activities of the day.

Support, proportions and the ability to change position need to be considered together. Sollevita uses a three-layer seat construction, a high backrest and the powered headrest Push Head; tilt-in-space offers different angles while keeping the angle between seat and backrest unchanged. These possibilities work alongside the breaks and the care that have been planned. Where there is a risk to the skin, surfaces and repositioning require a specific assessment: comfort is not the same as pressure relief.

Yes. Sollevita is also designed for people who walk and manage their day independently and who want a comfortable seat, adjustable supports and resting positions. The rise function adds help when it is needed, but there is no need to use it for every transition. Measurements and functions are chosen around the habits of the person, not only around a level of care.

The rise function can accompany the return as well, through the reverse movement. It is an option worth considering when the descent is hard to control, together with measurements, armrests and foot support. It is not a system that detects a fall: balance and the assistance required remain part of the assessment, even when the movement of the chair is gradual.

In that case what is assessed is vertical height adjustment, the lie-flat position and the removable side panel, not a greater angle of rise. These features make it possible to prepare the approach to the bed and some transfers, following the procedures set out for the person. A sling, a patient hoist and assistance remain necessary where indicated; compatibility should be checked in both directions of the move.

Vertical height adjustment brings the person, seated or lying down, to a more comfortable height for the carer. The removable side panel makes it easier to come alongside during dressing and shaving or hair care. Removable outer and underlying covers, on the other hand, concern the management of the upholstery. These are different kinds of help, to be used according to the instructions and without confusing maintenance of the chair with care of the person.

Yes. The sturdy wheeled base allows accompanied moves between rooms of the home, including longer routes, with the person staying seated. Route and dimensions must be compatible with the instructions. Before a rise or a transfer, the stable condition set out in the instructions must be restored. The battery powers the adjustments of the chair, not the drive of the wheels.

Sollevita handsets have intuitive buttons and a logical layout designed to keep use simple. Versions with a cable and wireless versions are available: the Sollevita Team helps to choose the one that suits the configuration and the habits of the person. If help with use is needed, the explanation involves the carer as well.

The Sollevita Team shows the adjustments that are useful day to day and remains available with tutorials and support by video call after delivery as well. The person and their family can go over the explanations again and clear up questions about the product. Transfer procedures and any specialist supports remain those indicated by the professionals involved.