There’s nothing quite like the comfort of settling into your favorite recliner and drifting off to sleep. The warmth of a cozy blanket and the familiar embrace of your recliner make falling asleep a breeze.
Elderly individuals tend to sleep slightly more than younger individuals, adults, and can easily fall asleep in their recliners.
For some elderly individuals with health conditions, sleeping in their recliners may offer a more comfortable and manageable sleep. This is why we’re here to explore the best recliners for elderly people, ones that can potentially improve their sleep quality and overall health.

Table of Contents
- Should You Sleep in Your Recliner
- Best Type of Recliners for Seniors to Sleep In
- Features of a Good Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In
- Reviews: The Best Recliners for Elderly to Sleep In
- Irene House® - Lay Flat Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In
- Mcombo® - Infinate recliner for Seniors to Sleep In
- Irene House® - Fabric Lay Flat Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In
- ® - Lift Recliner for Sleeping In
- Leisland® - Large Power Recliner for Seniors to Sleep In
- Creatuis® - Electric Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In
- Index Table: Top Rated Recliners for Elderly to Sleep In
Should You Sleep in Your Recliner
Now, first of all, whether you’re an elderly person, a young person, or just an adult, I do need to warn you that there are some issues with sleeping in a recliner. Sleeping in your recliner can have benefits, but it can also have some negative effects.
- Breathing Issues – Sleeping in a more upright position in your recliner can improve your breathing ability in some cases, though it can also cause breathing problems. You have a hunched-up back in your recliner. It can block the airflow to your lungs, which is quite a big problem. This position can create blood congestion in your lungs, reducing the amount of oxygen that gets to your lungs over time. So if your recliner doesn’t offer the right support for your back, and you are in a hunchback positioning your recliner while sleeping, it can be very unhealthy for breathing.
- Stiff Joints – If the position you are sleeping in on your recliner causes pain on certain body parts. It can cause stiffness in your joints and those body parts. You will. Your leg, or your foot, or your arm, could suddenly fall asleep or start Tingling. Over time, sleeping in your recliner in an uncomfortable position can cause tightness in your hips, knees, shoulders, and neck. And it can also be detrimental to your spine.
- Loss of Balance – Continually sleeping in an uncomfortable recliner for a long time. It may cause knee and hip contractures that can cause your muscles to tighten over your joints, resulting in a limited upright posture and standing ability. It can also impair movement and cause instability when you walk.
- Shallow Sleep – Everyone has different sleep stages, allowing them to get a good night’s rest. You need a full, complete sleep cycle for your body to get the rest it needs. When you are sleeping in a small recliner with less space, it might be difficult for your body to move into the deeper cycles of sleep, such as your REM sleep stages, which can lead to a low quality of sleep and a low quality of your day.
Benefits of Sleeping In a Recliner
It is not all bad with sleeping in your recliner. There are many more benefits than there are issues;
- Improved Circulation – Relaxing in a recliner and kicking your feet improves your circulation. When you fit or are elevated above your heart, such as sitting in a zero gravity recliner, it can reduce stress and inflammation naturally and help you recover from daily fatigue.
- Back Pain Relief – Most people, especially elderly people, suffer back pain at some other stage. Your back balances your whole upper body and lower body. Your spine helps with the proper alignment of your entire body. Taking pressure off your spine and your cool muscles, allowing them to relax, can help relieve back pain. A good ergonomically shaped and comfortable recliner can reduce pressure on your spine and even help properly align your spine, reducing and preventing back pain.
Now, to finish our discussion, do you think you should be sleeping in your recliner? The answer is yes, and no. If you invest in a proper ergonomic recliner that offers comfort and support features that are a deal for you, your body shape, weight, and conditions, sleeping in the recliner can be beneficial. If you have a small, tight, uncomfortable recliner that is not supportive, sleeping in it could be detrimental to your health, depending on the health condition of the elderly person, a recliner may be more comfortable and more suitable to sleep in, or on the other hand, not so
Best Type of Recliners for Seniors to Sleep In
When it comes to recliners for elderly individuals, I recommend specific types. I advise against regular, classic club chase-style recliners, narrow nursery-type recliners, swivel chairs, or anything small and hard in shape. Instead, consider a recliner with functions that allow you to lie flat with your feet above your heart for proper circulation and breathing.
To get proper support for your back, you’ll find the recliner needs to be ergonomic, and you need to concentrate on the cushioning in the back area, especially the lumbar region of the recliner. Also, consider your sleeping position, whether you sleep on your side or your back. The recliner needs to be long enough so that it fully supports your head and your feet, regardless of your preferred sleeping position.
The padding of the recliner needs to be soft and comfortable enough, but not too soft. You must also consider the upholstery and whether it will cause you to overheat during the night or become cold.
Generally, the best sleeping options are zero-gravity recliners, which distribute your body weight evenly to reduce pressure on your spine, and life-flat recliners, which allow you to lie flat.
For elderly people, I would also consider a recliner with a lifting function. This feature gently lifts the user to a standing position, making it easier for them to get in and out of the recliner.
Features of a Good Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In
- Size – Make sure the recliner you choose is wide enough or long enough to fully support your body in a comfortable position for sleeping with additional spice. You also need to consider the recliner’s weight capacity.
- Padding – The padding needs to be comfortable. It should not be too hard or too safe and not excessively soft. I’d appreciate it if you were looking for padding in the lumbar area or a cushion to support your back.
- Type – I would highly consider a life flat for zero gravity, a top recliner that you can lie down in a flat position. Also, a lift chair is a good choice for an elderly person.
- Upholstery – Whereas leather upholstery is much easier to clean and maintain, you need to keep it in mind when you initially lie down on it, it can be against your skin. And hot weather conditions later can also become quite sweaty. On the other hand, fabric recliners are much softer and more comfortable for sleeping on. Generally, I would much rather sleep on a fabric recliner than our leather recliner. However, we have included both options in the review section.
Reviews: The Best Recliners for Elderly to Sleep In
In our review section, you will find some of the best available recliners that are more suitable for elderly individuals to sleep in;
1
- The Irene House recliner is an electric recliner in which to sleep.
- It offers to lay flat and in infinite positions for sleeping.
- The leather upholstery is easy to maintain and clean.
- The recliner offers a humanistic design, and heat and massage functions.
2
- The Mcombo Electric recliners are perfect for seniors to sleep in.
- It offers lay flat, more infinite recline positions, and a lift function.
- The recliners have soft fabric upholstery and cushioning.
- It has additional USB ports and two side storage pockets.
3
- The Irene House Chenille recliner is soft and plush to sleep in.
- It has a roomy and ergonomic shape.
- The recliner has a lay-flat function and good lumbar support.
- It is an electric infinite-position recliner.
4
- The Comma is an electric recliner for sleeping in.
- It has a lift function in a comfortable lumbar support pillow.
- There are infinite positions that you can sit or sleep in.
- The recliners have storage pockets and handy cup holders.
5
- The Leyland recliner was ideally designed for sleeping in.
- It has a wide and roomy design with plush padding.
- The recliner has a power lift function, and a massage and heat for the elderly.
- It is a lay-flat design for sleeping.
- The upholstery is durable and easy to clean.
6
- The Creations Electric recliner is a Zero Gravity recliner.
- The positions make it ideal for the elderly to sleep in.
- It has a power-adjustable headrest and USB ports.
- The upholstery is a durable leather that is easy to maintain.
Index Table: Top Rated Recliners for Elderly to Sleep In
No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Irene House Lay Flat - Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In |
| Irene House | 98.3 | |
2 | Mcombo Infinate - recliner for Seniors to Sleep In |
| Mcombo | 98 | |
3 | Irene House Fabric - Lay Flat Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In |
| Irene House | 97.9 | |
4 | Lift - Recliner for Sleeping In |
| 97.8 | ||
5 | Leisland Large - Power Recliner for Seniors to Sleep In |
| Leisland | 97.9 | |
6 | Creatuis Electric - Recliner for Elderly to Sleep In |
| Creatuis | 97.4 |