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The standard height is to hard for mom to get up from. We need like a 21-22 inch seat height (from floor). Seems like that would be easy to find and I can find one on a UK site but they don't ship to US. Surely others must have this need...

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I have bar stool chairs. 2 are 23 in and the other is 24 to the seat . There are also pub tables and chairs. The height I found includes the back though.

The problem if you get too high it won't fit at a regular table. Maybe you can purchase a stool chair and have it cut down.
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KateyG Aug 2021
We did think of that too. We tried a bar stool and it was too high, but we may have to go back to having it cut down if other things don't work. Thanks for taking time to reply.
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How about something like this:

https://www.sitnstand.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw3_KIBhA2EiwAaAAlir0QFBztYg5qke49JrmKCIu52gfcbbySifDcUSRghg_V0L3wD5rGuxoCKOgQAvD_BwE
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JoAnn29 Aug 2021
I read that different than you.
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What about this?

https://www.amazon.com/Carex-Upeasy-Seat-Assist-Plus/dp/B0009MFUVS/ref=sr_1_18?crid=20CKQQYUHM1T&dchild=1&keywords=chair+elderly+assist&qid=1629343659&sprefix=Chair+elder%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-18
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KateyG Aug 2021
This is interesting since it is self powered. We tried one similar before but it was powered and she really had an aversion to that. I'll look into it. Thanks!
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If no armrests, try a chair that does.

I'm wondering if the chair height is changed will she then have trouble accessing the table comfortably?

Can she wriggle forward on the chair until feet well placed - lean shoulders forward - push down on armrests & stand herself if encouraged?

My relative cannot get out of chairs without armrests & struggles from low chairs too. Core strength & lack of glute strength is the cause. Has chair-to-stand as goals with PT.

It depends on cause too, stiffness, pain, fatigue, lacking muscle strength, even behaviour sometimes.
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KateyG Aug 2021
That's a good point on armrests. She didn't want arm rests, but maybe if she saw that she could get up better she might. Great suggestion. We will pursue that too.
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Yes to having arms on the chair. Andwhy don't you try one of those hydraulic seat lifts to help her rise up? It isn't a chair, you place it on the chair you already have and it lowers her down gently when she sits but lifts her gently when she stands.
Just look up Easy Up Lift Assist Cushioned Chair seat to see what they do.
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KateyG Aug 2021
Arm on a chair might be something to consider. She didn't want that...but maybe if she tried it it could help. She did not want the Easy Up Assist- we brought one and she was very much against it. Not sure why. But was unmovable on that. Thanks for your suggestions!
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Have you tried the elephant's feet risers? They're like hollowed-out cubes that you put one under each chair leg, and they raise the height of the chair by - oo, 4-6 inches or so? I'll see if I can find them online...

... Yes, there are loads of them and I'm sure you'll find them on the US Amazon website for stockists. Google "elephant's feet chair raisers blocks."
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KateyG Aug 2021
I don't think those will work because she has to scoot it in an out on low pile carpet. (We do have those on her bed). BUT when i did google that on Amazon something that also came up are the adjustable lifts that you can fit on the bottom of a dining room chair that might work. We'll order them and see. THANKS!
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I really appreciate the time everyone took to make suggestions. Although there does not seem to be any dining room chair that has adjustable height legs- I received several good work around suggestions. Thanks! PS This is the kind of chair I was looking for- Aspire Low Back Classic Day Chair - Champagne https://www.aidacare.com.au/products/medical-therapeutic-chairs/adjustable-height-chairs/low-back-day-chairs/aspire-low-back-classic-day-chair/
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Kate, I was jusy talking to a friend whose MIL has dementia. The woman is currently trying to get out of her usual chair, a low rocker.

My friend said to "as far as I can see, the most prominent manifestation of her dementia is STUBBORNESS!"

In part, this is because their executive functioning--like the ability to see and account for consequences is limited. In part, they may have been told by somone--a friend, a PT--that using assistive devices will cause deterioration. Ot it may be vanity; to quote my aunt "I won't use a walker; people will think I'm old (she was 93 when she said this).

Keeping elders SAFE becomes a matter of sometimes having them be unhappy...
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KateyG Aug 2021
You are right about that. I had to laugh because we can't get her to use a walker - same reason as your aunt. My mom is 92. So stubbornly independent. Hard to balance respect for her need for independence vs the need for safety. But she'd hate having to move from living on her own...so I'll try to approach it more that way. I like the OT suggestion too. Thanks for the input.
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I just looked at the chair you posted. I suggest you go to a Durable equipment store and see if they have a catalog. Or even a Pharmacy that sells durable equipment.

Maybe an office furniture provider. They may have a taller chair for us shorties.
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KateyG Aug 2021
That's a good suggestion and I've already done that - 3 Durable medical places and one office supply furniture store. :-) I'm just so surprised there is nothing like it. Thanks for the suggestion though! I have not tried hospitals or skilled care facilities to see where they get their higher chairs from...so that's a thought. Thanks again.
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The other thing is to talk to her doc about scripting an OT/PT eval to assess WHY she is having difficulty (core strength?) and get suggestions from them.
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I've seen a lot of elders who are adamantly against making the kind of changes that would make life easier and improve their safety. If the only barrier to continued independence is putting a cushion on a chair with arms and getting rid of the dining room carpet it is a small price to pay in comparison to the alternatives - the bottom line is that many who refuse to accept the little necessary changes are often forced to accept much bigger changes when their stubbornness causes enough problems that a move to a facility becomes the only option.
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When my mom had Alzheimer's, we ordered an electric cushion to go atop her recliner chair, to help ease her up to a standing position, (due to discomfort from her arthritic knees). My husband told the post office worker who was looking for it, "I'm not sure of the exact dimensions; it's an electric chair for my mother-in-law." I put this anecdote in a book that I wrote about taking care of my mom during this time called, "My Mother Has Alzheimer's and My Dog has Tapeworms: A Caregiver's Tale." Maybe a cushion like this would be helpful, or perhaps she could eat in a chair that's easy for her to get up from, and maybe you could have a tray table next to her. Best of luck.
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An adjustable office chair ?
I use one that adjusts the back and height.
It doesn't have arms which you likely would need for an elder.
Check Costco or Office Depot. Just a thought.
Gena
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Isthisrealyreal Aug 2021
The only thing with an office chair, you have to be careful of the castors.

My granny loved being able to roll around, we on the other hand lost years from watching her bump the chair when sitting and having to move quickly to stop hard falls.

She was real unhappy when we took her fun chair away. But 3 close calls was 2 to many.
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I would suggest getting a firm foam cushion to place on her chair that would make her seat a little higher. She might also do better with a chair with arms on it so she can push on the arms when rising. She might also benefit from a walker to help her rise from her chair.
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You might buy a spring type raise seat that you put in your chair that helps you raise up
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Get an "Office Chair"
Height is adjustable.
Back is comfortable
They have arms so she can use those when she gets up.
Most are wipeable so if they are spilled on it is easy to wipe up (or if there are accidents) Many have a mesh type seat so they don't stick to your skin if you are wearing shorts or a skirt.
You can remove wheels and replace them with rubber end caps
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I bought a shower chair for my wife. It has wide foot pattern with huge rubber feet for security and each leg has a adjustment by pushing in a pin for roughly 6 position height adjustments. Top height is 21".
Wall-mart- $45.00 I believe.
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have you tried an office chair that is usually adjustable? but i would make sure you can lock the wheels on it because most of them have wheels..........wishing you good luck
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I would suggest a Komode. Just add a pillow. Serves two purposes and will be needed at some stage.
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Lamb232 Aug 2021
I can't imagine sitting on a toilet while eating meals. Gross.
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Amazon sells swivel seats that can be placed on a regular dining chair, even upholstered ones. This adds about two inches to the height of the chair and also makes it easier for the person to get up because they can swing to the side and then hold onto both the table and the back of the chair. These seats are round, so they fit on almost any chair or go on the seat of any car.
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I bought a pub table/chairs at Kmart for about $200. Higher than usual table sets, easy off/on chairs.
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I found the Drive Medical Kitchen Stool to be the best adjustable chair.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002VWJZ1A?tag=amz-mkt-fox-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-a0069-win10-dsk00-smile-us000-pcomp-feature-pcomp-feature-pcomp-wm-8&ref=aa_pcomp_xcta1_xim1

Stool features a padded seat and back for added comfort & legs.
Angled seat makes sitting down and getting up easy.
Adjustable height and removable arm supports with adjustable width for added safety and comfort to accommodate most individuals
Seat Dimensions: 11"(D) x 14"(W) x 21"-27"(H); Weight capacity: 300 pounds.
Good luck.
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A chair with arms is the answer. When dad came home from rehab after a surgery, the physical therapist recommended one at the table. I found a lovely upholstered seat chair at a consignment shop that worked great. The extra padding on the seat made it far more comfortable than the armless dining chairs too. If your mom can manage with the armed chair, the added benefit is she will strengthen if she can use her own power to stand up, albeit with your assistance or safety assist. Anything to stay strong allows for independence....it's all good!
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KateyG: Imho, Wayfair has 22 inch dining chairs available OR an office chair that can have the rollers locked so that she doesn't experience a fall.
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Isthisrealyreal Aug 2021
Great idea LL. Wayfair is a great company to deal with too. They really stand behind the products they sell.
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Is she too weak to get up from the chair? Is it something that could be resolved with some PT? I know my mom often has mobility issues that can really be helped with some targeted exercises. IF you can get them to do them!
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Chair with arms is going to help. Or use one of those foldable walkers and lower it to a comfortable level so that she can use her arms to push up from sitting position. It will probably work well if you place the walker from behind the chair to create the 'arms' she needs to push up from. You could also go to a thrift store and get a tall chair and cut the legs off until it is the right height for her to easily get out of. Better to take small cuts off and continue testing until you get the right height.

Another option might be a potty chair or shower bench with adjustable legs and includes arms. You can always put a cushion on it to make it more comfortable.

As a side note, I have found UK often has medical things that seem to more thought out in design than the US. I ordered a thing with arms for the toilet that could be set up from the backside of toilet to leave all the front clear. Most of the US ones I found had a bar in the front where your legs would go and the bar was too tall to be placed behind the toilet due to tank and plumbing. 1000 times I've told myself I could be rich off of making better designs out of available medical equipment - and - could do it without charging old people the prices that are attached to anything associated to a medical product.
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My mom has a nice walker and turns it around to sit in. She thinks its more comfortable and can stand up from it.
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We stack 2 chairs for our elderly friend, it works perfect.
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I like some of the suggestions here. Another one would be a product that can be put on top of a regular chair and provides assistance standing up.
Upeasy Seat Assist - Chair Lift ... is just one kind. It is also portable and can be used on different chairs.
Even if using something like this a chair with arms certainly makes sense. You can also put a firm cushion on a chair with arms.
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I am disabled - spinal issues - and it is completely impossible to get from a standard chair and that is what every chair seems to be. I MUST have a chair with arms so I have a chance of pushing myself up when I am seated and pray it will work. In addition, I have made myself a foam seat 5" thick of foam used for sofa's. Putting that on the seat raises the seat and then with the arms, most times I can force myself into a sitting position. That is my ONLY HOPE.
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