Drive Medical 3-Position Bariatric Recliner

Standard recliners and geri chairs are typically rated for 250 lbs — and for bariatric patients who exceed that limit, sitting for extended periods without an appropriately rated chair means using equipment at or beyond its design capacity, which creates both safety risk and accelerated wear. The Drive Medical 3-Position Bariatric Recliner (model D574EW) addresses this directly with a reinforced heavy-duty frame rated for 500 lbs, a wider 25-inch seat designed for larger body frames, and all the clinical features that make a geri chair useful in home care and facility settings: three recline positions secured by a retractable lock bar, self-adjusting suspension that prevents bottoming out, a moisture barrier on the seat, five-position locking tray, and five-inch casters with two locking wheels for controlled room-to-room mobility.

Who This Is For

• Bariatric patients up to 500 lbs who need a properly rated chair for extended daily sitting — in a home care bedroom, living room, or care facility patient room — that will not fail under their weight over time
• Patients who spend significant time in a recliner due to mobility limitations, post-surgical recovery, or chronic illness and need a clinical chair that provides support in multiple positions without caregiver repositioning assistance for every position change
• Caregivers managing a larger patient's daily care routine who need a chair that positions easily to upright for meals and activities and reclines for rest, with the lock bar securing each position safely
• Skilled nursing facilities, long-term care homes, and assisted living facilities equipping resident rooms with a bariatric-rated recliner that meets fire safety standards and holds up to institutional daily use
• Home health agencies and discharge planners equipping a home setting for a bariatric patient being discharged from hospital or rehabilitation with appropriate seating for the recovery period

Key Features

• Three Positions — Upright, Deep Recline, and Elevated Leg Rest: The chair moves between three distinct positions to support the full range of daily activities in a seated environment. The upright position is appropriate for meals, activities, conversation, and any time full head and trunk support at near-90 degrees is needed. The elevated leg rest position raises the footrest while maintaining the back at a moderate recline — useful for lower extremity circulation, comfort, and rest without full reclining. The deep recline position extends the back fully for sleeping, extended rest, or therapeutic positioning. The transition between positions requires minimal caregiver effort — push back on the seat back and the leg rest adjusts automatically.
• Retractable Lock Bar — Position Security: The retractable lock bar engages to secure the chair in whichever position has been selected, preventing unintended position changes when the user shifts weight or when the caregiver steps away. For patients who cannot control their own positioning or who are being transported within a facility, the lock bar is engaged in the upright position to maintain a safe seated posture during movement. The lock bar retracts out of the way when position changes are desired.
• Self-Adjusting Suspension — Prevents Bottoming Out: The seat suspension system automatically adjusts to the user's weight to maintain consistent seat height and cushion depth throughout use. For a 500 lb-rated chair, this is a clinically important feature: without suspension, a heavier user compresses the seat foam quickly, reducing cushion depth and increasing the risk of bottoming out — the user's bony prominences contacting the seat frame beneath compressed foam rather than resting on the cushion. The suspension system prevents this progressive compression and maintains the cushion's pressure-distributing function over time.
• Moisture Barrier — Seat Seepage Protection: The seat includes a moisture barrier beneath the upholstery surface that prevents urine, moisture, or spills from penetrating through the cushion into the frame and suspension components. For patients managing incontinence or for use in clinical settings where fluid exposure is routine, the moisture barrier protects the chair's structural integrity and makes cleaning more effective — fluid that would otherwise wick into the foam and frame is blocked at the barrier surface.
• 500 lb Weight Capacity — Heavy-Duty Bariatric Frame: The D574EW's reinforced steel frame is engineered and rated for 500 lbs — double the capacity of the standard D574 model. This rating reflects genuine structural engineering for the loading patterns of extended daily use at bariatric weight, not a label applied to a standard chair. The 25-inch seat width accommodates larger body frames comfortably without the lateral compression that occurs when a bariatric user sits in a standard 19-inch seat.
• Large Blow-Molded Tray — 5 Locking Positions, Stores on Side: The included tray is large enough to accommodate a meal, medication cup, phone, activity materials, or personal items during use. It locks in five positions to accommodate different arm lengths and activities, and stores vertically on the side of the chair when not needed — keeping the transfer path clear and the chair footprint manageable. The tray can only be used in the upright position for safety.
• Built-In Headrest and Angled Armrests: The integrated headrest provides consistent head and neck support throughout all three positions without requiring a separate pillow or positioning aid. The padded armrests are angled — not horizontal — maintaining upper extremity support even in the deep recline position where horizontal armrests would leave the arms unsupported. Armrest angle support is particularly valuable for patients with upper extremity weakness or swelling who need arm support regardless of recline position.
• Five-Inch Casters with Two Locking Wheels — Controlled Mobility: The five five-inch casters allow the fully loaded chair to be moved smoothly across tile, vinyl, and low-pile carpet — essential for repositioning in a room, moving for cleaning, or transporting a patient to another area. Two of the five casters include locking mechanisms that prevent movement once the chair is positioned — critical for patient safety during transfers and caregiving activities.
• Pop-Off Side Panels — Easy Cleaning and Maintenance: The side panels remove without tools for access to the chair's internal components for cleaning, inspection, and maintenance. Clinical chairs accumulate debris at panel edges and joints; removable panels allow thorough cleaning of these areas rather than surface wiping only. The neutral-colored steel frame is easy to wipe clean with standard disinfectants.
• Fire Safety Compliance: Foam and vinyl construction meets the California Technical Bulletin 117 (California Flammability Standard) and Boston Fire Department specifications — the standards required for clinical furniture use in most U.S. healthcare facilities.

Technical Specifications

Warranty Information

• Frame: Limited Lifetime Warranty
• Upholstery and Moving Parts: 1-Year Warranty