{"id":1402,"date":"2024-11-27T16:36:21","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T21:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-coto.pantheonsite.io\/?post_type=resource&p=1402"},"modified":"2025-01-29T15:44:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:44:30","slug":"college-response-to-the-coroners-report-deaths-from-power-recliner-lift-chairs-2022","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/resources\/college-response-to-the-coroners-report-deaths-from-power-recliner-lift-chairs-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"College Response to the Coroner\u2019s Report: Deaths from Power Recliner Lift Chairs, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Introduction<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
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The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario released a report from the Geriatric and Long-Term Care Review Committee in 2021 about deaths from power recliner lift chairs. This resource is intended to alert occupational therapists to the potential dangers of power recliner lift chairs for clients with cognitive impairment to prevent future deaths and injuries related to these chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power recliner lift chairs (also known as power-lift chairs or lift chairs) can be used as an assistive device to help clients with mobility issues sit down and stand up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on the training, knowledge, and skills of occupational therapists, they can assess the risks and benefits of power recliner lift chairs to optimize client safety and well-being.  This document is meant to be informative and used as a resource to support an occupational therapist\u2019s clinical decision-making for the safe use of power recliner lift chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recommendation by the Geriatric and Long-Term Care Review Committee (GLTCRC) 2021:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPower recliner lift chairs should be included in home assessments with consideration of safety in patients with cognitive decline.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Summary of Case Reviews<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
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As described in the Geriatric and Long-Term Care Review Committee report (GLTCRC-2021-7A, 7B and 7C) in 2018, there were three cases involving individuals with cognitive decline who used the remote control of their power recliner lift chair to get into a standing position before having an unwitnessed fall to the ground. In all cases, these falls led to injuries, complications, and subsequent death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The falls did not appear to be influenced by medication, and it was noted that all three individuals would spend prolonged times sitting or sleeping in their chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of the chairs were evaluated or \u201capproved\u201d by health professionals. In each case, the chairs involved were manufactured by a different company and appeared to be older and discontinued models. This suggests that the risks of using this device may not be directly related to a particular brand but may be influenced by factors related to the person and environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main concern<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In multiple cases, activation of a power lift recliner chair by elderly individuals with cognitive decline has led to a fall to the ground, causing injury and subsequent death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age<\/strong><\/th>Diagnosis\/Medical History<\/strong><\/th>Where did the fall occur?<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
87 years<\/td>Dementia, seizure disorder, atrial fibrillation with pacemaker, hypertension, colitis, bladder stones and right hip fracture with total hip arthroplasty after previous fall.<\/td>Private residence<\/td><\/tr>
96 years<\/td>Severe Alzheimer\u2019s disease, osteoporosis, diabetes (type 2), hypertension, and a complex left hip fracture.<\/td>Long-term care home<\/td><\/tr>
92 years<\/td>Mild dementia, frequent falls, hypothyroidism, and hypertension<\/td>Retirement home<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Refer to\u00a0<\/em>Appendix A – Geriatric Long Term Care Review Committee (GLTCRC) Report<\/a>\u00a0for more details about each individual case.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Use of Power Recliner Lift Chairs<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Power recliner lift chairs are useful in helping clients to lift themselves out of a chair. There are many models available on the market that provide unique features and different levels of size and comfort to best suit the client\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power recliner lift chairs are used by people in both their own homes and in long-term care. Clients may purchase a power recliner lift chair without a recommendation from a health care professional and they may be unaware of the risks associated with using this device. These chairs may pose a greater risk of injury or death for the elderly, mobility challenged, and cognitively impaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of these chairs<\/strong><\/th>Risks of these chairs<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u2022 <\/mark>Assists in transitioning from a sit-to-stand (and vice-versa) position independently
\u2022 <\/mark>Helps maintain independence and mobility
\u2022 <\/mark>Can promote aging in place
\u2022 <\/mark>User-friendly remote-control mechanism<\/td>		\u2022 <\/mark>Serious injury that may lead to death.<\/strong>
\u2022 <\/mark>Falls risks for all users (of any physical\/cognitive ability)
\u2022 <\/mark>Clients with decreased cognitive abilities may engage the chair without consideration to safety or environmental hazards (location of remote etc.)
\u2022 <\/mark>Provide comfort and a functional place to sit or sleep in a common area versus lying in bed
\u2022 <\/mark>Allows for the client to easily adjust their position while seated<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Considerations<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Reflection Questions for <\/strong>Occupational Therapy Home Assessment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The following questions were developed to help guide occupational therapists when considering the safety of power recliner lift chairs in a person\u2019s environment. This is not an exhaustive list of safety considerations, and occupational therapists should use their clinical reasoning to complete an assessment that involves physical, cognitive, environmental, and behavioral considerations and resulting recommendations based on client need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reminder: It is important to provide education to the client\/family\/caregivers about the risks, benefits, and safe operation of the chair to prevent injury.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n