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PN and Outdoor Seating?

Posted by Ray Kemble @ray666, 1 day ago

Does anyone have a recommendation for a folding camping chair that offers good stability while sitting down and standing up for a fellow like me whose PN has me managing loss of balance 24/7? The plastic patio chairs I've already got and most of the so-called beach chairs I've sat in over the years tend to be too tippy. My chief wish at the moment, as we've lots of summer left to go, is to be able to attend summertime lawn concerts without the fear of tipping over and falling out of my chair. My balance is such that I'd long ago given up on the idea of just plopping down on the lawn: the plopping down can be tricky enough, but the getting back up again can be both painful and … well, if remain in good spirits, getting back up again can be downright comical. 🙂 I'd welcome any and all suggestions.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 1 day ago

Hi Ray, I've thought about getting a camping chair that's a little higher in hopes that it will be easier to get up once I sit down but haven't had the need to use one for awhile, although our small town just built and bandshell in the city park by the river and has music and food vendors every Tuesday night during the summer. I saw this one on Amazon that wasn't too pricey - https://www.amazon.com/Goplus-Portable-Heightened-Detachable-Armrests/dp/B07MJDPPTK.

A couple of others I've thought about for use when I'm out in our backyard for extended periods of time pulling weeds and need a break 🙃- one is a portable cane/seat tripod that looks to be easy to get up from but then probably not to comfortable if you sit too long - https://www.amazon.com/Honmido-Adjustable-Durability-Convenience-Lightweight/dp/B09FFQX467/ and one of those unique expandable drinking cup technology folding stool - https://www.amazon.com/Boreeman-Upgraded-Lightweight-Collapsible-Retractable/dp/B08PT4GRZM/.

I have difficulty getting up from any chair without arms so definitely relate to the downright comical 😂

REPLY
2 replies
Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 1 day ago
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi Ray, I've thought about getting a camping chair that's a little higher in hopes that..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi Ray, I've thought about getting a camping chair that's a little higher in hopes that it will be easier to get up once I sit down but haven't had the need to use one for awhile, although our small town just built and bandshell in the city park by the river and has music and food vendors every Tuesday night during the summer. I saw this one on Amazon that wasn't too pricey - https://www.amazon.com/Goplus-Portable-Heightened-Detachable-Armrests/dp/B07MJDPPTK.

A couple of others I've thought about for use when I'm out in our backyard for extended periods of time pulling weeds and need a break 🙃- one is a portable cane/seat tripod that looks to be easy to get up from but then probably not to comfortable if you sit too long - https://www.amazon.com/Honmido-Adjustable-Durability-Convenience-Lightweight/dp/B09FFQX467/ and one of those unique expandable drinking cup technology folding stool - https://www.amazon.com/Boreeman-Upgraded-Lightweight-Collapsible-Retractable/dp/B08PT4GRZM/.

I have difficulty getting up from any chair without arms so definitely relate to the downright comical 😂

Jump to this post

Thanks, John!
I've made note of each of these chairs and will check each out. Oh, yes, chairs without arms are the Devil's handiwork.
Worse still? Low, low armless chairs that are super cushy (e,g., sofas). Sitting down is usually easier: gravity helps (sometimes a litle too much 🙂 ). It's the getting back up that's tough.
I can't help but laugh every time I walk into a doctor's waiting and look around at the available seating. Too often the chairs are armless and low, so low you'd think they were intended for a daycare center.
Thanks again, John!
Ray

REPLY
Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 1 day ago
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi Ray, I've thought about getting a camping chair that's a little higher in hopes that..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi Ray, I've thought about getting a camping chair that's a little higher in hopes that it will be easier to get up once I sit down but haven't had the need to use one for awhile, although our small town just built and bandshell in the city park by the river and has music and food vendors every Tuesday night during the summer. I saw this one on Amazon that wasn't too pricey - https://www.amazon.com/Goplus-Portable-Heightened-Detachable-Armrests/dp/B07MJDPPTK.

A couple of others I've thought about for use when I'm out in our backyard for extended periods of time pulling weeds and need a break 🙃- one is a portable cane/seat tripod that looks to be easy to get up from but then probably not to comfortable if you sit too long - https://www.amazon.com/Honmido-Adjustable-Durability-Convenience-Lightweight/dp/B09FFQX467/ and one of those unique expandable drinking cup technology folding stool - https://www.amazon.com/Boreeman-Upgraded-Lightweight-Collapsible-Retractable/dp/B08PT4GRZM/.

I have difficulty getting up from any chair without arms so definitely relate to the downright comical 😂

Jump to this post

Hi, John. I've ordered a Go Plus Portable Heightened Detachable etc. etc. camp chair. After looking over your suggestions, the Go Plus looked to be the best. How this all came about this morning was a friend inviting my partner and I to join her at an outdoor concert. When I heard what I'd be facing (lawn seating), I clutched. My PN voice whispered, "Oh, Ray, you know that outdoor concerts with only lawn seating is just something you can no longer do. Remember how poor your balance is." I grew furious. I actually yelled aloud, "I'm not spending the rest of my life indoors!" Twenty minutes later I was posting on Connect. And you came to my rescue, John. Thank you, sir, thanks a millionfold! ––Ray

REPLY
julbpat | @julbpat | 15 hours ago

Another option is the old school webbed aluminum chair. Lightweight to carry, and simple to unfold. Don’t worry about not looking cool - they are becoming popular again! It’s always best to look cool, right?

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Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 12 hours ago

Ah, yes, the importance of always looking cool! That was my concern. I had visions of myself having tipped over and scrambling on the grass, wiggling, trying frantically to stand up, all the while wondering: "Do I look cool?" 🙂 (Thanks for your suggestion, @julbpat!)

REPLY
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | 12 hours ago

I do not have any suggestions for a stable patio chair, but I will say that regular height toilets are really miserable after installing a comfort height toilet in our bathroom. It's like falling from the sky onto a small target...PLOP!

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 12 hours ago
In reply to @heisenberg34 "I do not have any suggestions for a stable patio chair, but I will say that..." + (show)
@heisenberg34

I do not have any suggestions for a stable patio chair, but I will say that regular height toilets are really miserable after installing a comfort height toilet in our bathroom. It's like falling from the sky onto a small target...PLOP!

Jump to this post

Yes indeed to the comfort height toilets!! I also added one of those toilet safety rails that provides handles on each side to help me get up off of the toilet 🙃

REPLY
1 reply
Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 11 hours ago
In reply to @johnbishop "Yes indeed to the comfort height toilets!! I also added one of those toilet safety rails..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Yes indeed to the comfort height toilets!! I also added one of those toilet safety rails that provides handles on each side to help me get up off of the toilet 🙃

Jump to this post

What a difference those extra few inches in height can be! I hadn't needed one of those toilet boosters all through my PN years, but when sepsis struck last spring, compounding my leg weakness, I definitely benefitted from one of those boosters.

I'm no longer using one, but when I had my bathroom redone recently, I had a "normal person" commode put it, so I'm still getting a little boost.

But what about visiting friends? Or having to use a public toilet? Those booster seats have me conditioned: on getting up, I find myself reaching in vain for grab bars that aren't there.

Another of PN's many pleasantries! 🙂

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 10 hours ago
In reply to @ray666 "What a difference those extra few inches in height can be! I hadn't needed one of..." + (show)
@ray666

What a difference those extra few inches in height can be! I hadn't needed one of those toilet boosters all through my PN years, but when sepsis struck last spring, compounding my leg weakness, I definitely benefitted from one of those boosters.

I'm no longer using one, but when I had my bathroom redone recently, I had a "normal person" commode put it, so I'm still getting a little boost.

But what about visiting friends? Or having to use a public toilet? Those booster seats have me conditioned: on getting up, I find myself reaching in vain for grab bars that aren't there.

Another of PN's many pleasantries! 🙂

Jump to this post

I got one after my knee replacement and like it so well that I never took it out after recovery.
https://a.co/d/d5iLOSc

REPLY
1 reply
Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 9 hours ago
In reply to @johnbishop "I got one after my knee replacement and like it so well that I never took..." + (show)
@johnbishop

I got one after my knee replacement and like it so well that I never took it out after recovery.
https://a.co/d/d5iLOSc

Jump to this post

I might still be using mine, but when we changed houses (I returning to my hoise and my partner moving in with me), we donated the booster chair to the Denver Assistance League. So far my new toilet (slightly higher than the norm) is working out just fine. I do find myself reaching and grabbing the edge of the sink when I move to get up, however.

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