Riser Recliner Chair Prescription for Community OTs with Clare Batkin!
Electric riser recliner chairs are one of the most commonly prescribed pieces of assistive technology in aged care – yet they are often under-prescribed, over-prescribed, or prescribed without adequate clinical justification. This course changes that.
Working through a real case study, you will apply a structured eight-step AT framework to the clinical assessment, feature matching, trial, funding, implementation, and review of recliner chairs. The content is grounded in Layton’s (2017) AT best-practice framework and draws on the clinical expertise of an experienced OT practitioner.
This course is part of a collaborative Aged Care AT series developed by Otuition and Your OT Tutor. It is intended for occupational therapists working in community or aged care settings.
Course
2 Hours
About this course
A structured, evidence-informed online course guiding occupational therapists through every step of prescribing electric riser recliner chairs – from identifying need to reviewing outcomes.
Ideal for:
Occupational Therapists working in community or aged care settings who want to build confidence in recliner chair assessment, prescription, and funding applications using a structured assistive technology framework.
You’ll learn how to:
- Apply a structured AT assessment and prescription framework to recliner chair prescription
- Use the PEO and HAAT models to systematically guide clinical reasoning
- Select recliner features based on client anthropometrics, function, safety and pressure care needs
- Understand single-motor vs dual-motor options and know when each is clinically justified
- Conduct and document an appropriate trial process
- Prepare a funding application with accurate scripts, quotes, and clinical justification
- Provide effective implementation, training, and self-management guidance
- Use standardised outcome measures (QUEST 2.0, PIADS, CATOM) to evaluate AT outcomes
About your instructor
Clare Batkin
Clare Batkin is a senior occupational therapist, clinical educator, sessional academic, and owner of the clinical education business Your OT Tutor. Clare has over 17 years’ experience as an occupational therapist working with adult clients across public and private sectors, within hospital and community caseloads.
Clare is a self-proclaimed ‘OT Nerd’ who loves sharing her enthusiasm for learning, quality improvement and knowledge translation with OTs and OT students, and she has a particular interest in supporting students as they transition into new graduate therapists. She believes professional development should be simple, practical and worth it! Clare supports thousands of occupational therapists across Australia through sharing free resources, online courses, paid CPD memberships and one-on-one support.
Syllabus
4 Modules, resources and references covering
- Introduction- AT Framework & Recliner Chair Fundamentals
- Welcome and course overview
- Layton’s (2017) eight-step AT best-practice framework
- What is an electric riser recliner? Key features and price ranges
- Single motor vs dual motor – a first overview
- Course disclaimers and assumed knowledge
- Introducing the case study
- Steps 1-2: Identifying Need & Feature Matching
- Starting with function – what task is actually impacted?
- Identifying risks: falls, manual handling, pressure injury
- PEO model and HAAT model applied to recliner prescription
- Person factors: anthropometrics, transfer technique, cognition, UL function
- Pressure injury risk – tools and clinical implications for fabric and cushion selection
- Bariatric considerations and special client populations
- Environment factors: power point location, circulation space, hoist compatibility
- Occupation factors: eating, leisure, sleeping, and socialising in the chair
- Chair structure, motor types, fabric options, and cushion selection
- Luxury features (heat, massage) – when clinically justified vs contraindicated
- Case study: applying Steps 1–2
- Steps 3-5 Trials: Choice and Funding Applications
- Ruling out low-cost alternatives and planning the trial
- Trial logistics: who, where, how long, and what activities to assess
- In-home vs showroom trials – when each is appropriate
- Funding body constraints and their impact on trials
- Identifying and tailoring the final prescription
- Mapping pros and cons across shortlisted options
- Documenting clinical justification for each feature
- Writing the funding application
- Report vs letter vs form – what each funder requires
- Quotes, invoices, and scripts – what to check and triple-check
- Managing client expectations about approval timelines
- Case study: applying Steps 3–5
- Steps 6-8: Delivery, Review and Outcome Measurement
- Delivery – what to check on arrival and who needs to be present
- Training the client and carer: transfers, controls, maintenance, who to call
- Facilitating safe use and self-management from day one
- Follow-up and maintenance – cleaning schedules, triggers for review
- Formal review – device and person
- Standardised outcome measures: QUEST 2.0, PIADS, CATOM
- Scenarios: discharge, modification, cease, or referral on
- Complex cases – when to seek supervision and restart the process
- CPD reflection and applying the prescription worksheet to your next case
More information
Prescribing electric riser recliner chairs can be challenging, especially when you’re balancing clinical reasoning, feature selection, pressure care needs, and funding requirements. We created this course to bridge that gap, offering practical guidance on how to assess, trial, and prescribe recliner chairs using a structured assistive technology framework.
Drawing on clinical experience in adult rehabilitation and community practice, this course combines practical knowledge with best-practice AT principles. Our goal is to help you feel more confident in recliner chair prescription, whether you’re just getting started or refining your approach to achieve safe, functional outcomes for your clients.
