Statistics show that older adults (75 years and above) are at a higher risk of dying from car accidents than middle aged drivers (between 35 and 54 years). In 2018 alone, more than 7,700 seniors died from car crashes alone, and a further 250,000 admitted to the emergency room.
This high death rate in senior adults is sometimes caused by bad sitting positions in the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury and increase safety and comfort, adult booster seats come in hand.
This article discusses the best adult booster seats, detailing various booster seats for adults along with additional information, such as the model, features, pros, and cons.
How Do Adult Booster Seats Work for Seniors?
Generally, standard car seats are designed for an average person to fit comfortably. But as people age, they tend to become smaller due to different health issues, such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia.
These particular individuals may find sitting in a standard-sized car seat for a long period of time very uncomfortable when traveling over long distances in cars.
Seniors with health complications such as arthritis may find it painful getting in and out of a vehicle or driving for long hours without stopping. Besides adding a little height, a car booster seat provides the much-needed extra cushioning for most seniors.
Adult booster seats alleviate a driver up higher, allowing for a better view of the road, better control of gas pedals, etc.
Severe injuries can occur during an accident or a mere sharp turn when an older driver isn’t appropriately fitted in the car’s seat. Similarly, when a senior is too short for the car’s seat positioning, the shoulder belt may not correctly cross over the senior’s shoulder and breastbone but end up riding upon the senior’s neck.
With this improper restraint, seniors might be at risk of developing significant injuries even in minor accidents — especially considering that elderly driving statistics show that older seniors are at much higher risk for fatal car accidents than younger drivers.
In case of a car crash, the improperly restricted senior may experience the following:
- Flying towards the windscreen or front seat
- Slipping out of the loose seat belt, popularly known as submarining
Various injuries accompany the above scenarios. Sometimes, these injuries may be fatal. Here are good examples of injuries that occur due to a lack of proper positioning, mainly in car seats.
- Head Injury: Head injuries can happen when the shoulder belt is behind the senior’s back or under the arm. The condition causes severe bruises to the brain which can result in a disability or even death.
- Seat Belt Syndrome: Occurs when the shoulder belt is under the senior’s arm, behind the back, or when the lap belt rides upon the abdomen. During a crash, the lap belt might drive into the belly, injuring some soft internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and intestines.
- Neck and Spinal Injuries: When the shoulder belt rests under the senior’s arm or behind his back or when the lap belt rides upon the abdomen. The incident may cause the neck and the spine to bend and tear apart, resulting in paralysis.
- Adult booster seats protect seniors by raising the seat lap-and-shoulder belt to fit correctly, preventing the shoulder belt from rubbing the senior’s face and neck and providing the intended safety constraints. The booster seat also ensures that the lap belt rests across the hips instead of sitting dangerously upon the senior’s abdomen.
In addition to their popular use in automotive vehicles, adult booster seats are great for short elders when using a computer desk.
Sitting for long hours in front of a computer or any other device may bring unwanted pains to an older adult, a common problem adult booster seats can solve. An adult booster ensures that a senior can sit comfortably at a desk with appropriate ergonomic positioning.
Now let’s look at some of the best adult booster seats for seniors you’ll find online!
1. Comfy Cush Orthopedic Seat Cushion
Comfy Cush Orthopedic Seat Cushion
Sturdy memory foam adult booster seat
This booster seat raises a senior’s height when sitting on a car seat and ensures comfort while on an office chair. It is made up of a foam pad to minimize lower back pains and increase comfort.
About: The Comfy Cush Orthopedic Seat Cushion helps you sit comfortably, even for long periods of time. This booster functions as a great car seat cushion, ensuring that your long flights or car trips are much more relaxed and fun.
The weight of the Comfy Cush is evenly distributed across the entire booster seat. This distribution prevents flattening due to heavy weight distributed in the center. While this even distribution of weight is handy, it’s worth nothing that this cushion is not suitable for seniors weighing over 250 lbs.
The cushion is large enough for most seniors to use it comfortably, whether in a car or at a desk. Additionally, the seat’s velour cover has a convenient zipper for easier removal when washing.
The Comfy Cush can be used for different reasons, for example, as an office chair to keep a senior’s back in an upright position. It is also a great wheelchair cushion, preventing pelvic and hip pain while relieving stress on lower back, spine and tailbone.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: Comfy Cush
- Color: Grey
- Fabric type: Foam
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 14 x 3 inches
Pros
- Made up of a 3″ thick memory foam cushion for increased height.
- Foam seat is medium firmness and oesn’t flatten quickly.
- Designed using five molds specifically made to relieve lower back pain
- Cushion can also be used in wheelchairs to ease pelvic and hip pain and stress from the lower back, spine, and tailbone.
Cons
- Not ideal for people weighing over 250 lbs
2. Essential Medical Supply Rehab Cushion
Essential Medical Supply Rehab Cushion
Square-shaped high-density foam booster seat
Made up of high-density polyurethane foam, this booster seat ensures sturdiness when sitting on an office chair, wheelchair, or car seat.
About: Essential Medical Supply Rehab Cushion is a rectangular, no-nonsense seat cushion that adds comfort and height for seniors when sitting on wheelchairs, dining chairs, car seats, or hard benches. This booster seat fits in most wheelchairs to reduce or prevent back pains and stiffness.
The Essential Medical Supply booster seat is made of high-density foam that keeps its shape even after being used for an extended period. The cushion is lightweight for portability, making it a great choice for bringing in and out of a car as needed.
Its cover is removable and can be washed conveniently with a washing machine. However, when washing, it’s suggested that you wash the cover alone first to avoid color bleeding.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: Essential Medical Supply
- Color: Black Material Foam
- Fabric type: Foam
- Product Dimensions: 18 x 4 x 16 inches
Pros
- Provides firm sitting and pressure relief
- Square shape makes it ideal for different types of chairs.
- Cover is machine washable
- Has a variety of sizes to choose from with 2”, 3” and 4” heights
Cons
- Some seniors may need straps to keep the cushion from sliding on slippery surfaces
3. Car Booster Seat Cushion
Car Booster Seat Cushion
Airy, breathable car seat cushion
This car booster seat for seniors improves posture while driving and enhances your viewing range by 12 centimeters. Also works great for office and home use!
About: Car Booster Seat Cushion broadens your viewing space, offering a significant boost of almost 5 inches and enabling the driver to see the road more easily. This booster cushion uses non-slip material and is portable, with a convenient handle that makes it easy to carry from the home to the car.
This car seat uses a breathable mesh outer layer with several middle grooves that provider the driver with a more comfortable car ride.
This textured, grooved booster seat can also be used at homes and offices to maintain a better posture while working at a desk. This multipurpose booster seat also works as a great for providing some extra seat lift in a standard chair, on trains, and during airplane travel.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: WSGJHB
- Color: Pink, Blue, and Black
- Fabric type: Polyester fiber
- Product Dimensions: 15.7×15.7×4.7 inches
Pros
- Raises driver’s height by approximately 4.7 Inches, thus providing higher road visibility
- Cushion is ergonomically designed with comfortable grooves
- Has a in-built handle for portability.
- Size is compatible with most car seats to increase visibility over the dashboard.
Cons
- Some users complain that the cushion compacts too much when sitting on it, but most didn’t find this to be an issue.
4. Extra-Thick Foam Chair Cushion
Extra-Thick Foam Chair Cushion
Cushy booster with 5″ of height
Ultra-high cushion with five inches thickness, making it easier for seniors to stand up and sit down.
About: Extra Thick Foam Chair Cushion offers the biggest boost, with 5 inches of height added to the user’s seat. Specially designed for adults with low upper and lower body strength, this booster seat is a great option for shorter seniors who need a significant boost in height.
The booster seat is squated, making it compatible with different types of chairs and wheelchairs as well. Designed to fit into tight spaces, such as stadium seats and movie theaters, this is one of the best car booster seats for seniors on the go.
The adult booster seat is made with a removable, machine-washable cover.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: EasyComforts
- Color: White Cushion
- Fabric type: Poly Cotton
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 5 inches
Pros
- Offers 5 inches of seat boost – the biggest height boost we’ve seen!
- Surface area of 14 x 14 inches, making this booster seat ideal for tight spaces in wheelchairs, stadium seats, movie theaters, and car bucket seats.
- Makes it easier for seniors to rise to a standing position due to the increased height.
- Cover is removable for easy washing.
Cons
- Surface area of the seat may be small for seniors who need a larger surface area when sitting.
5. Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Seat Cushion
5. Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Seat Cushion
Heat-responsive adult booster seat
This booster seat is great for office use. It consists of a high-quality memory foam pillow that uses heat-responsive technology to adjust its firmness based on your natural body heat.
About: Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Seat Cushion is U-shaped for increased ergonomic comfort while sitting. This adult booster seat contains memory foam with heat-responsive elements that allows the foam to adjust itself according to your bottom’s shape. The pillow retains shape even after using over a long period of time.
The cushion is lightweight, making it a great choice for home use, office, car rides, airplane trips, couch, lounge chairs, or any surface that needs extra height and comfort when sitting.
The curved design helps minimize the pressure by cradling your bottom and distributing the support evenly around the sitting area. This makes it an especially good choice for seniors suffering from sciatic nerve discomfort.
The cushion’s cover is made of an ultra-soft non-slip material that is also removable and machine washable. Weighing 1.9 lbs and composed of 100% memory foam, the Everlasting Comfort Seat is a great car booster seat for seniors with tailbone and back pains.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: Everlasting Comfort
- Color: Black, Blue, Navy Blue, Grey, and Red
- Fabric Type: Pure memory foam
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.5 x 2.75 inches
Pros
- Heat-responsive memory foam that molds to your curves using your body heat.
- Relieves pressure on your lower back, waist, hips, and thighs.
- Curved design cradles your bottom to distribute sitting support evenly.
- Ergonomic U-Shape design relieves tailbone pain
- Lightweight for easy travel use
- Machine washable cover
Cons
- Does not have a carry handle
6. Fortem Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support
Fortem Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support
Cushion designed for lumbar support
Designed specifically to support the pelvic area. Use this memory foam pillow on an office chair, car seat, or wheelchair.
About: The Fortem Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support has two cushions – a horizontal and vertical piece. The dual cushion design allows this booster seat to align a senior’s shoulders, neck, pelvis, and spine properly to eliminate stress on the coccyx. It also can support an older adult’s back for maximum comfort when working on a desk, driving a vehicle, watching TV, among other activities.
The booster seat pillow is also ergonomically contoured for an even body weight distribution. Its supportive padding conforms gently to the body’s contours, relaxing the coccyx, spine, and hips.
This adult cushion is ideal for seniors suffering from a herniated disc, tailbone injury, sciatica nerve damage, a sore back, or inflamed hemorrhoids.
Both pads work harmoniously to relieve sores, swollen muscles and joints, and prevent back pain while ensuring without compromising on comfort. The horizontal pad also has a U-shape design to relieve spine and tailbone pressure.
Seniors can adjust the two pads independently depending on their height and desired level of comfort. The seat cushion has a non-skid bottom to keep it in place at all times, even during back and forth movements.
The velour cover is breathable and removable for effective washing. It wicks away any moisture to keep older adults dry and comfortable all day.
The adult booster seat perfectly fits most cars, SUVs, vans, and truck seats, making it a great traveling companion. The Fortem Seat Cushion is compatible with most office chairs, gaming chairs, rocking chairs, wheelchairs, recliners, armchairs, and sofas.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: FORTEM
- Color: Black and Grey
- Fabric Type: Lumbar Support Mesh Cover
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.5 x 3 Inches
Pros
- Dual-cushion design with the lower cushion supporting the coccyx and the vertical cushion providing lumbar support for better comfort and posture
- Comes with a handle for portability.
- Has long adjustable elastic straps which fit most chairs.
Cons
- Some users complain that the back cushion does not perfectly fit certain chairs.
7. Desk Jockey Car Seat Memory Foam Wedge Tailbone Cushion
Desk Jockey Car Seat Cushion
A great adult booster seat for the car
Designed to elevate your height when driving, this adult booster seat guarantees comfort by eliminating tailbone pain.
About: The Desk Jockey Car Seat Cushion is a wedge seat cushion specifically designed for seniors traveling in cars. This adult booster seat is a great choice for painless driving, thanks to its clinical therapeutic memory foam.
The cushion was designed by a board-certified physical therapist, made to provide coccyx, coccygeal, bariatric, and sciatica relief.
The wedge cushion aligns an older adult’s hips and spine when seated. For seniors who love playing the guitar, piano or carrying out detailed work like drawing, this booster seat comes in handy in maintaining the correct posture for long hours of sitting.
The cushion promises to keep its shape, and it’s specifically designed to fit most modern vehicle seats without hassle.
The cushion also prevents slouching when sitting for long periods and offers increased comfort for seniors. The Desk Jockey Car Seat cover is also removable and washable, has a non-slip bottom, and comes with a storage and travel bag.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: Desk Jockey
- Color: Grey
- Fabric Type: Therapeutic Grade Memory Foam
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 13 x 3 inches
Pros
- Made with high-performance memory foam ideal for improving posture and relieving hip and leg pains.
- Foam is thick with slanted wedge design for optimal comfort
- Designed to fit in most modern vehicles
- U-shape provides extra relief and relieves any sciatic nerve pain by suspending the senior’s coccyx and tailbone.
- Has a non-slip rubber bottom for a firmer grip when placed.
- Contains a sewn-in handle for easy carrying
- Manufacturer offers a lifetime guarantee.
Cons
- Weights 3 lbs, which is a little bit heavier compared to some other adult booster seats
8. ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
Gel-infused seat cushion
Designed to relieve tailbone, sciatica, and back pains, this booster seat functions with an office chair, car seat, and can even be used for air travel.
About: ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion provides a natural solution for back pain and comes with a U-shaped sitting platform to relieve tailbone pressure. Its ergonomic design uses embedded curves within its contours to provide better support for seniors with wider bottoms.
You can transform any chair into a premium seat with this ComfiLife seat booster
This cushion features a mix of memory foam and cooling gel, along with heat-responsive elements that allows the cushion to adjust its firmness based on the surrounding temperature. The cushion can become much softer in warm temperatures and firmer when it gets cold.
Product Specifications:
- Brand: ComfiLife
- Color: Black and Grey
- Fabric Type: Memory foam
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 13.7 x 2.75 inches
Pros
- Contains a built-in handle for easy transport.
- Mix of cooling gel and supportive memory foam
- Has a zippered velour cover that is easily removable for cleaning.
- Helps relieve lower back problems, herniated discs, tailbone injuries, sciatica, and other spinal issues.
- Cushion is excellent for office, home, travel, car seat, or wheelchair use.
Cons
- Cushion gets firmer in cold temperatures, which could be quite uncomfortable for some seniors.
Things To Consider When Choosing an Adult Booster Seat
With so many different options when it comes to adult booster seats, it’s always a great idea to know exactly what to look for when shopping for one. The following tips should guide you in selecting the best booster seat for seniors.
Comfort
The best adult booster seat should be comfortable enough for elderly adults when carrying out their day-to-day activities. For comfortable sitting or a more comfortable car ride, always opt for a cushion that fits the body size of the older adult.
Some adult booster seats may be too thick and rigid. Such booster seats may cause discomfort and are not usually the best for older adults.
Some seniors will prefer a u-shape design over a flat, square design, while others will prefer the opposite. Try to determine what style of seat the older individual prefers before committing to a chair booster that will be relied on for years to come.
Material
Cushions made of memory foam are soft and comfortable to sit on. However, memory foam cushions aren’t all of the same quality.
For instance, some memory foam cushions have an added layer of the cool-off gel to increase comfort. Others provide a mix of memory foam (which is more pliable and comfortable) with sturdier support foam (which is more structurally resilient and provides firmer support).
Height
The height of the booster seat can be very important, depending on the use intended for the seat. For driving, it’s essential that adult booster seats provide enough lift to offer a good view of the road.
However, if the seat is too high when driving, the senior adult may not reach the pedals underneath the vehicle’s dashboard.
When shopping for adult car booster seats, it is always advisable to opt for those with an appropriate height that is compatible with the car’s design. This means that the older adult should be able to easily reach the pedals and the steering wheel while comfortably sitting on the cushion.
Washable
Many seniors prefer a seat cushion with a removable cover, as it is much easier to wash this way.
If the cover is removable, determine whether it should be hand-washed or machine-washed. For the machine-washed cushions, remember to wash them separately in the washing machine to avoid color bleeding (especially on the first wash).
The process of choosing an ideal booster seat entirely depends on the needs of the older adult. As you’ve learned in this review, adult booster seats serve different purposes.
These adult booster seats promise to increase height and comfort levels by a certain margin. For shorter drivers, they can offer better visibility and safer driving — so consider getting used to using a driving cushion before your next elderly driver’s license renewal!
The best adult booster seat is one that will provide the perfect amount of height and comfort to the senior, within the context of how they plan to use it!
Last update on 2022-01-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
