A friend of mine has the habit of sitting on the edge of his bed, pulling towards him the computer stand, and working on his art, solving complex challenges, etc. Inevitably, he will doze off. This causes him to fall backward onto the bed with his knees bent at 90 degrees, feet on the floor. This has, and continues to cause the eventual slipping off the bed and finding himself on the floor. It is difficult at that point to right himself and get back up onto the bed. This is further exacerbated by the fact that that he remains a bit foggy once waking up and finding himself on the floor.
I guess my question is what products out there can accommodate both sitting and unexpectedly dozing off. I know the obvious answer may be a sleeper chair, but I was wondering if there might be a type of chair that will sense a leaning backward person and automatically cause a lifting at the legs for the purpose of preventing an ability to slip off and down to the floor. Those large arm chairs may work, but too much force and or forethought is required to bring the legs up. This should be something more sensitive and without resistance to the function.
My DH dozes at unusual times. He has never fallen over but I see him nodding in front of his computer, etc.
He has accepted recently that he has sleep apnea. Has been told for years by various doctors that he obviously has it. Now they insist he be treated for it. He has had the test and it was so bad that they told him he should be dead. He hasn’t gotten his equipment yet but I am looking forward to seeing how much it will help him.
He was able to do the test at home which I think is a fairly new option.
Also narcolepsy should be considered.
"I'm a friend of a great, talented, and stubborn gentleman. It's not my role or place to provide care... I would like to research a topic in hopes that he may find it helpful. "
Please know that you can go through all sorts of effort to find solutions for him but in the end if he's stubborn, he won't use what you're offering. Increased (or irrational) stubbornness is an early sign of cognitive decline, not a personality quirk. As we age, we become less willing to change as it is. If you throw in cognitive decline, which means our ability to work from our reason and logic is disappearing, then you have someone unwilling/unable to solve their everyday problems no matter what great solution you've found for them.
If you're not the legal PoA or guardian I would bring up the issue with that person, or a close relative of his, if you think he's needing more help. It's wonderful that you wish to help your friend. If he's very elderly, just have tempered expectations for his cooperation.
Another option might be a folding "stadium seat". It looks like a folding chair without legs. The back would support him and the seat would provide a bit more of a firmer support even if it is on the bed. He would have to open it up and then either stand and sit on it or scoot it under him.
I would probably opt for a bed that can have the head and or foot raised and lowered. (like a hospital bed, if he can't replace a regular bed with a hospital bed).
This would give him support, allow him to work comfortably in bed. A lap table or even an adjustable over the bed table would provide a work surface.
As to the large arm chairs....the power recliners require no strength and if needed there are lift chairs that would make it even easier to get in and out of if transferring is necessary